| Description | Soho Foundry. (13 items).
1449. Soho Foundry - 14 Horse Engine. Aug. 1795, Feb. 1796., Mar. 1803, 1805. 13 items.
14 horse power sun & planet engine, with 20 inch cylinder, 5 foot stroke, parallel motion. Power later increased to 20 horses and later to 24 horses.
Framing and cistern - reverse drawing [this drawing was made in 1793 for an engine for a Mr. Walker, but was re-used for the "Soho Boring Mill Engine"].
Section and plan of the engine and boiler houses - reverse drawing, Aug. 1795.
Section of the boiler house and chimney - reverse drawing, Aug. 1795.
[These drawings bear letter codes.]
General section and plan of the engine and boiler - coloured original and reverse drawings, 24 Feb. 1796.
Front view of the engine and edge view of the rotative motion - coloured original and reverse drawings, 24 Feb. 1796.
Plan of the cylinder and boiler tops (this plan has had a second boiler added in) - coloured original and reverse drawings, 24 Feb. 1796.
[These drawings bear letter codes.]
Set of 10 indicator diagrams, 13 Mar. 1803 - 8 pencil sheets [diagram nos. 6 and 9 are missing].
Eccentric circle and working gear - coloured original drawing marked "Soho Foundry" in pencil and reverse drawing, not dated [from the re-build of 1805].
Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 235.
This was the original "Soho Foundry" engine. The engine initially powered all the machinery at Soho Foundry, including the boring apparatus, lathes, drills etc., and blast to the Foundry cupola. However the engine was overloaded, and when William Murdock re-designed the boring mill in 1798 two of his small beamless engines were introduced to power the mill.
In 1805 the power of the engine was increased to 20 horses and it was extensively rebuilt with a new cylinder, a larger beam and various other new parts. The redundant 14 horse parts were later used on a 14 horse engine, coded AA, originally intended for the Lightmoor Co. in Shropshire in 1811 [see 4/93, Engine Order Book No. 7]. This 14 horse engine was eventually sold to William Overbury & Co. in 1823 [Portfolio 5/479]. The power of the Foundry engine was increased again, from 20 to 24 horses, in 1824.
See also: 4/93 (Engine Order Book No. 7), Portfolio 5/479. |