Jon Baddeley
Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine
Lot 47
A SMALL, FULL-SIZED BEAM ENGINE, with four pillars and single cylinder, of the Matthew Murray type, circa 1810,
22 September 2015, 13:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £3,750 inc. premium
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Claire Tole-Moir
Head of Department
A SMALL, FULL-SIZED BEAM ENGINE, with four pillars and single cylinder, of the Matthew Murray type, circa 1810,
This engine was used to drive machine tools in the Lancashire clock-making industry.
It has a single ribbed cylinder, 2.375" bore x 5" stroke, with gunmetal cylinder cover and cast plinth. The "outside" valve chest is bolted to a separate cast and decorated steam transfer pipe, and incorporates an adjustable valve spindle driven from weighshaft links and shaft, in turn driven through an adjustable stroke hand lever, single push-rod and eccentric.
The cast beam is driven by equal parallel motion with its anchor links fixed to an entablature yoke, supported on a decoratively turned column with brass finial. The main gudgeon bearings are supported on decorative T-section pillars, in turn supported by typical Murray angled columns with faceted bases. A Watt type governor sits on the well detailed pedestal which incorporates both a spoked bevel gear wheel and the inner driveshaft bearing. The lower governor slipper ring drives a weighshaft and levers connected to an adjustable governor butterfly valve.
On the outer end of the beam a positive displacement feed pump is driven by a tapered connecting rod with gib and cottered upper yoke and the gib and cottered main connecting rod is barrelled with a knop at the upper end. The flywheel is turned for a belt and the main bearings are supported on cast A-frames. The engine has a simple flat cast bed mounted on a wooden box-plinth with hinged doors for access at both ends and a small brass heart of personal significance. 27 1/2 ins (70cm) high x 33 ins (84cm) long
It has a single ribbed cylinder, 2.375" bore x 5" stroke, with gunmetal cylinder cover and cast plinth. The "outside" valve chest is bolted to a separate cast and decorated steam transfer pipe, and incorporates an adjustable valve spindle driven from weighshaft links and shaft, in turn driven through an adjustable stroke hand lever, single push-rod and eccentric.
The cast beam is driven by equal parallel motion with its anchor links fixed to an entablature yoke, supported on a decoratively turned column with brass finial. The main gudgeon bearings are supported on decorative T-section pillars, in turn supported by typical Murray angled columns with faceted bases. A Watt type governor sits on the well detailed pedestal which incorporates both a spoked bevel gear wheel and the inner driveshaft bearing. The lower governor slipper ring drives a weighshaft and levers connected to an adjustable governor butterfly valve.
On the outer end of the beam a positive displacement feed pump is driven by a tapered connecting rod with gib and cottered upper yoke and the gib and cottered main connecting rod is barrelled with a knop at the upper end. The flywheel is turned for a belt and the main bearings are supported on cast A-frames. The engine has a simple flat cast bed mounted on a wooden box-plinth with hinged doors for access at both ends and a small brass heart of personal significance. 27 1/2 ins (70cm) high x 33 ins (84cm) long
