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Lot 65

A SMALL, FULL-SIZED, SINGLE CYLINDER HORIZONTAL ENGINE "NUGGET",
built by William Brown, to drive machine tools via line shafting, Preston, circa 1850,

22 September 2015, 13:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £8,750 inc. premium

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A SMALL, FULL-SIZED, SINGLE CYLINDER HORIZONTAL ENGINE "NUGGET", built by William Brown, to drive machine tools via line shafting, Preston, circa 1850,

The cylinder, 3" bore x 4.5" stroke, has rectangular section annular webs and integrally cast cylinder support brackets designed for minimum heat loss into the bedframe. The steam passage is arranged on the top of the cylinder and carries a two-part valve chest with hexagon gland nut, driven via a laterally mounted weighshaft with turned handle and lift-off rectangular section barrelled central connecting rod.

The piston rod cross-head has slippers running in oil grooves in cast iron guide bars, with turned brass pillars and lubricating cups. The barrelled, decorated and faceted forked connecting rod has gib and cotter strap big and little ends. The crankshaft has a cast T-section crank keyed to it, a solid large diameter eccentric sheave, three speed pulley to the separately mounted governor, relatively small flywheel and crowned pulley wheel supported on an external A-frame pedestal.

The governor is robustly constructed yet highly decorative and is fitted with a sizeable butterfly valve and linkage. The cast iron engine bed has fine decorative detailing, is polished on top and carries the engraved maker's plate. Wooden plinth. 15 ins (38cm) high x 24 ins (61cm) long

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