| Description | Steam Boat Engines (28 items).
1243. Steamer Caledonia (EK & EL). Apr.-Jul. 1817, Jan., Apr., May, Sep., Oct. 1818, May 1820, Jul. 1822. 28 items.
Two 14 horse power side lever boat engines, with 23½ inch cylinders, 2½ foot strokes.
"Design for 2 14 horse engines in the Caledonia steam boat" - partially shaded side view and plan; plan and section of the engine room - drawing made in London; plans and sections of the boiler - coloured original and partially coloured reverse drawing (the reverse drawing is marked "Copied for London 26 Jan. 1887"); spur wheels, shafts and supports - partially coloured reverse drawing; longitudinal section, side view and plan of the boat; section of the boat - reverse drawing marked "to Mr. Rattenburg, carpenter"; longitudinal sections of the engine room showing new ceiling and sleepers and timbers, plan of the engine room showing sleepers - partially coloured reverse drawing; section and plan of the engine room (not dated); "Sketch of the Caledonia steam boat" (side view and plan of the boat) - partially coloured drawing; new frame for paddle wheel shaft, with additional frame for 13.0 paddle wheels added later - partially coloured reverse drawing. The boiler, spur wheel and paddle wheel frame drawings bear letter codes.
Also the following press copies, rough sketches etc.: "Some Caledonia scraps" - 4 sheets with various press copy sketches stuck to them, including eccentric rod, steam and safety pipes, feed pipes, shafts and crank pins, chimney pipe, coal boxes, fire doors (the sheets were originally stuck together and form 1 item); note ordering copper pipe (press copy); eccentric rod (press copy); sketch of framing of engines "in the present state"; steam pipe [?] (press copy); sketch of scheme for 13 foot paddle wheels; small rough sketch of coal boxes; bearers (press copy); sketch for alteration of the eccentric rod.
Also letter from James Brown to William Creighton dated "Caledonia Steam Packet, Rotterdam, 2 Jan. 1818", with sections of the paddle wheel and casing; 2 small watercolours of the Caledonia, captioned "Dampskibet Caledonia" ; poster advertising a voyage of the Caledonia from London to Margate with Edward Phipps, Commander.
Also the following later items: cross-section of the boat and engines, plan of the engines and boiler, side view of engine and section of the boiler, cross-section of the boat with front view of the boiler - 4 partially coloured reverse drawings on 2 sheets, May 1820; sketch plans of old and new boilers, Jul. 1822.
Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 699. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 312.
For James Watt Jr. and M. R. Boulton. The Caledonia was built by James and Charles Wood and James Barclay of Glasgow in 1815. James Watt Jr. and M. R. Boulton bought the boat from her original owners, The Caledonia Steam Boat Co., in May 1817, and replaced her existing engines with the 14 horse Boulton Watt & Co. engines. The boat was used for trials and demonstrations of the Boulton Watt & Co. engines, including a voyage across the Channel and up the Rhine with James Watt Jr. aboard. She was sold in 1819 and went to Copenhagen, although according to Engine Order Book No. 9 she retained her name. Caledonia is mentioned in The Engineer, 1866, p. 37 and in T. Tredgold, The Steam Engine, p. 317.
See also: 4/95 (Engine Order Book No. 9). |