Homepage

Hierarchy Browser

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse MS 3147 - Boulton and Watt Collection - 1761 - 1977MS 3147 - Boulton and Watt Collection - 1761 - 1977
Expand 1 - Records of Boulton & Watt and Successor Firms - 1766 - 19191 - Records of Boulton & Watt and Successor Firms - 1766 - 1919
Collapse 2 - Legal Records - 1766 - 18512 - Legal Records - 1766 - 1851
1 - Letters Patent to James Watt for "Certain New Methods of Applying the Vibrating or Reciprocating Motion of Steam or Fire Engines to produce a continued Rotative or Circular Motion round an Axis or Centre, and thereby to give Motion to the Wheels of Mills or other Machines" - 25 Oct 1781
2 - Letters Patent to James Watt for "Certain New Improvements Upon Steam or Fire Engines for Raising Water and other Mechanical Purposes and certain new mechanisms applicable to the same" - 12 Mar 1782
3 - Letters Patent to James Watt for "Certain New Improvements upon Fire and Steam Engines and upon Machinery worked or moved by the same" - 28 Apr 1784
4 - Printed Patent Specification: Mr. Watt’s Specification of his Method of lessening the Consumption of Steam and Fuel in Fire Engines - 1769
5 - Act of Parliament: An Act for Vesting in James Watt, Engineer, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, the sole Use and Property of certain Steam Engines, commonly called Fire Engines, of his Invention, described in the said Act, throughout His Majesty’s Dominions, for a Limited Time, 1775 (2 items). - 1775
6 - An Act for Vesting in James Watt, Engineer, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, the sole Use and Property of certain Steam Engines, commonly called Fire Engines, of his Invention, described in the said Act, throughout His Majesty’s Dominions, for a Limited Time, 1775, reprinted 1794 (1 item). - 1794
7 - Certain New Improvements Upon Steam or Fire Engines for Raising Water and other Mechanical Purposes and certain new pieces of mechanism applicable to the same - 12 Mar 1782
8 - Copy of indenture of agreement between James Watt and Matthew Boulton - 5 Sep. 1777
9 - Articles of partnership between Boulton & Watt and John Southern, 1 May 1811 (1 item). - 1 May 1811
Expand 10 - Agreements for Sun & Planet engines, 1784 - 1799 - 1784 - 179910 - Agreements for Sun & Planet engines, 1784 - 1799 - 1784 - 1799
Expand 11 - Agreements for Crank Engines, 1793 - 1799 - 1793-179911 - Agreements for Crank Engines, 1793 - 1799 - 1793-1799
Expand 13 - Agreement for a Blowing Engine, 1798 (1 item).* - 179813 - Agreement for a Blowing Engine, 1798 (1 item).* - 1798
Expand 14 - Agreements for Water Works Engines, 1779 and 1795 (2 items).* - 1779 - 179514 - Agreements for Water Works Engines, 1779 and 1795 (2 items).* - 1779 - 1795
Expand 15 - Agreements for Cornish Mine Engines, 1778—circa 1793 (19 items).* - 1778 - 179315 - Agreements for Cornish Mine Engines, 1778—circa 1793 (19 items).* - 1778 - 1793
Expand 16 - Draft and Copy Engine Agreements, 1777—1851 (30 items).* - 1777 - 185116 - Draft and Copy Engine Agreements, 1777—1851 (30 items).* - 1777 - 1851
Expand 17 - Memoranda and Agreements, 1790—1798 (10 items).* - 1790 - 179817 - Memoranda and Agreements, 1790—1798 (10 items).* - 1790 - 1798
18 - Absolute Assignment of 1/40th Part in Wheal Chance Mine in the Parish of Camborne to Matthew Boulton by Jemima Olive, widow of George Olive of Camborne, consideration £20. 12 Jun. 1780 (1 item). - 1780
19 - Constitution by the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury, and Appointment of Joseph Sage, Provost of his Majesty’s Mint in the Tower of London, to be King’s Clerk and Comptroller of the coinage of copper one penny and two penny pieces, 20 Jun. 1797 (1 item). - 1797
20 - Indenture granting Matthew Boulton licence to manufacture copper coin, 4 Nov. 1799 (1 item). - 1799
21 - Indenture granting Matthew Boulton licence to manufacture copper coin, 5 Apr. 1805 (1 item). - 1805
22 - Lease by Matthew Robinson Boulton of Warehouses, Shopping and Steam Engine at Soho to William Murdock and William Vickers Toney, steel manufacturers, for 14 years, 24 Feb. 1834 (1 item). - 1834
23 - Papers relative to the Steam Engine, 1771—1795 (15 items).* - 1771 - 1795
Expand 24 - Papers Legal, Historical and Philosophical relating to the Invention and Progress of the Steam Engine, 1792—1796 (8 items).* - 1792 - 179624 - Papers Legal, Historical and Philosophical relating to the Invention and Progress of the Steam Engine, 1792—1796 (8 items).* - 1792 - 1796
Expand 25 - Lists and Papers relating to Patents, circa 1793—1795 (15 items).* - 1793 - 179525 - Lists and Papers relating to Patents, circa 1793—1795 (15 items).* - 1793 - 1795
Expand 26 - Further Papers relating to Patents, Watt’s Specification etc., circa 1775—1794 (13 items).* - 1775 - 179426 - Further Papers relating to Patents, Watt’s Specification etc., circa 1775—1794 (13 items).* - 1775 - 1794
Expand 27 - Drafts of Patent Specifications and Petitions by James Watt, 1781—1793 (11 items).* - 1781 - 179327 - Drafts of Patent Specifications and Petitions by James Watt, 1781—1793 (11 items).* - 1781 - 1793
Expand 28 - Papers relating to the Dutch Patent and Specification, 1786 (6 items).* - 178628 - Papers relating to the Dutch Patent and Specification, 1786 (6 items).* - 1786
Expand 29 - Papers and Correspondence with John Gutch relating to James I’s Declaration on Monopolies, Jun. 1795 (5 items).* - 179529 - Papers and Correspondence with John Gutch relating to James I’s Declaration on Monopolies, Jun. 1795 (5 items).* - 1795
30 - Thoughts upon Patents, or exclusive Privileges for new Inventions (1 volume).
Expand 31 - Patent Specifications and Bills of Other Engineers and Inventors, 1758—1799 (14 items).* - 1758 - 179931 - Patent Specifications and Bills of Other Engineers and Inventors, 1758—1799 (14 items).* - 1758 - 1799
Expand 32 - Printed Acts of Parliament, 1783—1796 (5 items).* - 1783 - 179632 - Printed Acts of Parliament, 1783—1796 (5 items).* - 1783 - 1796
Expand 33 - Papers relating to the obtaining of Horner’s Patent and proceedings at Radstock to 1791, 1781—1783, 1787, 1791 (20 items).* - 1781 - 179133 - Papers relating to the obtaining of Horner’s Patent and proceedings at Radstock to 1791, 1781—1783, 1787, 1791 (20 items).* - 1781 - 1791
Expand 34 - Opinions of Counsel upon the Specification etc., 1791—1792 (7 items).* - 1791 - 179234 - Opinions of Counsel upon the Specification etc., 1791—1792 (7 items).* - 1791 - 1792
Expand 35 - Additional Papers, 1785, 1787, 1792 (37 items).* - 1785 - 179235 - Additional Papers, 1785, 1787, 1792 (37 items).* - 1785 - 1792
Expand 36 - Printed Material, 1792 (26 items).* - 179236 - Printed Material, 1792 (26 items).* - 1792
Expand 37 - Manuscripts of Pamphlet by Thomas Wilson, 1792—1793 (2 items).* - 1792 - 179337 - Manuscripts of Pamphlet by Thomas Wilson, 1792—1793 (2 items).* - 1792 - 1793
Expand 38 - Papers relative to Edward Bull, 1792—1797 (11 items).* - 1792 - 179738 - Papers relative to Edward Bull, 1792—1797 (11 items).* - 1792 - 1797
Expand 39 - Other Documents relating to the Action against Edward Bull, 1793, 1795 (6 items).* - 1793 - 179539 - Other Documents relating to the Action against Edward Bull, 1793, 1795 (6 items).* - 1793 - 1795
40 - The Special Case in the cause Boulton & Watt against Bull in the Court of Common Pleas, with the Arguments of the Judges thereon; and an Appendix of Matters referred to. - 1795
Expand 41 - Papers relative to Hornblower & Maberly prior to Action in Common Pleas, 1795—1797 (25 items).* - 1795 - 179741 - Papers relative to Hornblower & Maberly prior to Action in Common Pleas, 1795—1797 (25 items).* - 1795 - 1797
Expand 42 - Papers relative to Action in Common Pleas versus Hornblower & Maberly, 1796 (49 items).* - 179642 - Papers relative to Action in Common Pleas versus Hornblower & Maberly, 1796 (49 items).* - 1796
Expand 43 - Papers relative to Hornblower & Maberly Subsequent to the Trial in Common Pleas, 1796—1797 (5 items).* - 1796 - 179743 - Papers relative to Hornblower & Maberly Subsequent to the Trial in Common Pleas, 1796—1797 (5 items).* - 1796 - 1797
44 - A Letter to the Rt. Hon. Sir James Eyre, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; on the subject of the cause, Boulton & Watt v. Hornblower & Maberly; for infringement on Mr. Watt’s Patent for an improvement on the Steam Engine by Joseph Bramah, Engineer. 1797 (1 volume). - 1797
45 - Copy of the Short Hand Writer’s Notes of what passed in the Common Pleas on the motion for a New Trial being refused, 13 Feb. 1797 (1 volume). - 1797
Expand 46 - Papers relating to the Writ of Error in King’s Bench, 1798—1799 (15 items).* - 1798 - 179946 - Papers relating to the Writ of Error in King’s Bench, 1798—1799 (15 items).* - 1798 - 1799
Expand 47 - Proposed Petition to the House of Commons, 1799 (5 items).* - 179947 - Proposed Petition to the House of Commons, 1799 (5 items).* - 1799
Expand 48 - Other Papers relating to the Action against Hornblower and Maberly, 1796—1797 (11 items).* - 1796 - 179748 - Other Papers relating to the Action against Hornblower and Maberly, 1796—1797 (11 items).* - 1796 - 1797
Expand 49 - Newspapers containing Advertisements, Letters and Reports relating to Jonathan Hornblower, Edward Bull and Judgement in King’s Bench, 1791—1794, 1799 (8 items).* - 1791 - 179949 - Newspapers containing Advertisements, Letters and Reports relating to Jonathan Hornblower, Edward Bull and Judgement in King’s Bench, 1791—1794, 1799 (8 items).* - 1791 - 1799
50 - The Arguments of the Judges in Two Causes relating to the Letters Patent granted to James Watt, Engineer, for his Method of lessening the consumption of steam and fuel in fire engines. Taken in short-hand by Mr. Gurney. In two parts; with an appendix. 1799 (7 items). - 1799
Expand 51 - Documents to prove B & W’s declaration of their intention to prosecute the Users of Horner’s Infringement, 1775—1796 (37 items).* - 1775 - 179651 - Documents to prove B & W’s declaration of their intention to prosecute the Users of Horner’s Infringement, 1775—1796 (37 items).* - 1775 - 1796
Expand 52 - Statements of Accounts, Calculations of Premiums, Lists of Adventurers etc. relating to Hornblower’s Piracies, 1799—1801 (35 items).* - 1799 - 180152 - Statements of Accounts, Calculations of Premiums, Lists of Adventurers etc. relating to Hornblower’s Piracies, 1799—1801 (35 items).* - 1799 - 1801
Expand 53 - Papers relating to Cornish Law Cases, circa 1780—1800 (24 items). - circa 1780—180053 - Papers relating to Cornish Law Cases, circa 1780—1800 (24 items). - circa 1780—1800
Expand 54 - LETTERS FROM MR. WILSON RELATING TO THE RECUSANT MINES 1786—1794 - 1786—179454 - LETTERS FROM MR. WILSON RELATING TO THE RECUSANT MINES 1786—1794 - 1786—1794
Expand 55 - General Documents relative to Cornish Contests, 1794—1799 (9 items).* - 1794 - 179955 - General Documents relative to Cornish Contests, 1794—1799 (9 items).* - 1794 - 1799
Expand 56 - Cornish Recusants, chiefly relative to the settlements therewith, 1794—1800 (27 items).* - 1794 -180056 - Cornish Recusants, chiefly relative to the settlements therewith, 1794—1800 (27 items).* - 1794 -1800
57 - Extracts from Letters relating to Messrs. Boulton & Watt’s Steam Engine Concerns in the County of Cornwall, and Memorandums in relation to the Same Subject, circa 1799 (1 volume). - circa 1799
58 - Extracts from Letters relating to Messrs. Boulton & Watt’s Steam Engine Concerns in the County of Cornwall, and Memorandums in relation to the Same Subject, circa 1799 (1 volume). - circa 1799
59 - Messrs. Boulton & Watt – Memorandums, 4 Mar. 1799 (1 volume). - 4 Mar. 1799
Expand 60 - Pednandrea Mine, 1796—1798 (11 items).* - 1796 - 179860 - Pednandrea Mine, 1796—1798 (11 items).* - 1796 - 1798
Expand 61 - Papers relating to the Action against Matthew Murray, 1800—1803 (19 items).* - 1800—180361 - Papers relating to the Action against Matthew Murray, 1800—1803 (19 items).* - 1800—1803
Expand 62 - Sketches and Descriptions of Pirate and Rival Engines, 1766—1796 (22 items).* - 1766 - 179662 - Sketches and Descriptions of Pirate and Rival Engines, 1766—1796 (22 items).* - 1766 - 1796
Expand 63 - Opinions of Mr. Anstruther and Mr. Holroyd, 1792, 1794 (5 items).* - 1792-179463 - Opinions of Mr. Anstruther and Mr. Holroyd, 1792, 1794 (5 items).* - 1792-1794
Expand 64 - John Sturges & Co., pirate engines, 1793—1796 (49 items).* - 1793—179664 - John Sturges & Co., pirate engines, 1793—1796 (49 items).* - 1793—1796
Expand 65 - Miscellaneous Items, 1780—1798 (12 items).* - 1780—179865 - Miscellaneous Items, 1780—1798 (12 items).* - 1780—1798
Expand 66 - Papers relating to Fraud committed by Robert Hodges, clerk to the Copying Company, 1805, 1809 (17 items).* - 1805-180966 - Papers relating to Fraud committed by Robert Hodges, clerk to the Copying Company, 1805, 1809 (17 items).* - 1805-1809
Expand 67 - Estate of the late Francis Eginton – Documents relative to M. R. Boulton J. Watt & Co.’s claims thereon, 1805—1814 - 1805 - 181467 - Estate of the late Francis Eginton – Documents relative to M. R. Boulton J. Watt & Co.’s claims thereon, 1805—1814 - 1805 - 1814
Expand 68 - Letters and Papers relative to John Bennett’s Delinquency, Trial etc., 1820—1821; 1826—1827 (63 items).* - 1820-182768 - Letters and Papers relative to John Bennett’s Delinquency, Trial etc., 1820—1821; 1826—1827 (63 items).* - 1820-1827
Expand 69 - John Dawn’s Cash Book at Soho Foundry and other documents relative to his embezzlement &c., 1832 - 183269 - John Dawn’s Cash Book at Soho Foundry and other documents relative to his embezzlement &c., 1832 - 1832
Expand 3 - Correspondence and Papers - 1769 - 18953 - Correspondence and Papers - 1769 - 1895
Expand 4 - PRODUCTION RECORDS - 1774 - 18954 - PRODUCTION RECORDS - 1774 - 1895
Expand 5 - DRAWINGS - MAIN SERIES - 1775 - 19045 - DRAWINGS - MAIN SERIES - 1775 - 1904
Expand 6 - DRAWINGS - "AVERY" PORTFOLIOS - 1815 - 19036 - DRAWINGS - "AVERY" PORTFOLIOS - 1815 - 1903
Expand 7 - DRAWINGS - 'SCIENCE MUSEUM' PORTFOLIOS - 1797 - 19197 - DRAWINGS - 'SCIENCE MUSEUM' PORTFOLIOS - 1797 - 1919
Expand 8 - Staff and Employment Records - 1784-18888 - Staff and Employment Records - 1784-1888
Expand 9 - Premises Records - 1783-18949 - Premises Records - 1783-1894
Expand 10 - MISCELLANEOUS MANUSCRIPT AND PRINTED MATERIAL - 1776 - 189610 - MISCELLANEOUS MANUSCRIPT AND PRINTED MATERIAL - 1776 - 1896
Expand 11 - Miscellaneous Non-Engineering Business Material - 1761-c.185011 - Miscellaneous Non-Engineering Business Material - 1761-c.1850
Expand 12 - RECORDS OF THE BOULTON, WATT & CO. LONDON OFFICE - 1818 - 188512 - RECORDS OF THE BOULTON, WATT & CO. LONDON OFFICE - 1818 - 1885
Expand 12 - Records of the Boulton Watt & Co. London Office - 1818-188512 - Records of the Boulton Watt & Co. London Office - 1818-1885
Expand 13 - LONDON OFFICE LETTERS OF ADVICE - 1828 - 183713 - LONDON OFFICE LETTERS OF ADVICE - 1828 - 1837
Expand 14 - London Office Financial Records - 1835-188314 - London Office Financial Records - 1835-1883
Expand 15 - LONDON OFFICE SURVEY OF STEAM POWER IN THE NORTH EAST, 1835 - 183515 - LONDON OFFICE SURVEY OF STEAM POWER IN THE NORTH EAST, 1835 - 1835
16 - London Office Miscellaneous Papers - 1817-1881
Expand 17-20 - Records of James Watt & Co - 1779 - 185117-20 - Records of James Watt & Co - 1779 - 1851
18 - James Watt & Co. Legal Records - 1779-1780
Expand 21-25 - Records of French Walls Iron & Steel Works - 1816 - 186621-25 - Records of French Walls Iron & Steel Works - 1816 - 1866
Expand 2626
26 - M.R.Boulton, J. Watt & Co. Financial and Legal Records - 1804 - 1836
26-30 - Records of M. R. Boulton J. Watt & Co. - 1771-1840
Expand 27 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Correspondence - 1816-184027 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Correspondence - 1816-1840
Expand 28 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Papers of William and Charlotte Matthews - 1771-183028 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Papers of William and Charlotte Matthews - 1771-1830
Expand 29 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Papers of Joseph Taylor and Taylor Campbell & Bowden - 1804-181329 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Papers of Joseph Taylor and Taylor Campbell & Bowden - 1804-1813
Expand 30 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Papers of John Woodward - 1803-181230 - M.R.Boulton, J.Watt & Co. Papers of John Woodward - 1803-1812
31 - Material added by George Tangye - 1857 -1915
32 - Material added by Birmingham Library - 1784 - 1977
Skip to main content

Useful Links

Showcase items

A list of our latest and most exciting new items.

Explore Showcase