An exquisite and delicately built, early 19th-Century brass and ferrous metal, probably salesman's model, of a hot bar fired stationary steam set,
Details
An exquisite and delicately built, early 19th-Century brass and ferrous metal, probably salesman's model, of a hot bar fired stationary steam set,
the cast brass boiler framing with brass plate engraved 'Samuel Pemberton, Maker, Chepstow', the unlagged boiler with filler plug, level test cocks, fire door, steam dome with mushroom valve, safety valve with Salter spring with graduation marks and pointer, and steam line with plug type regulator valve. The table, or steeple engine, is mounted above the boiler and secured to the boiler framing by brass straps and comprises a vertical cylinder .5/8in. bore x .7/8in. stroke with centrally mounted valve chest with separate steam ways and eccentric operated valve with bar crosshead and barrelled side rods, the tapered oval section eccentric rod has variable cut-off adjustment, the piston rod crosshead which runs in vertical slides are supported on two tapered columns mounted on the table either side of the cylinder, and carry two barrelled connecting rods to wedged big end with split brasses. The crankshaft, with facetted webs, runs in two main bearings, and is fitted with a round rim four spoke flywheel and spoked belt pulley. Further details include table supported on pierced arches, gear driven Watt-type governor, cheese headed screws, lubricator cups, finials and four cast feet, finished in polished and oiled brightwork -- 12½ x 10in. (31.7 x 25.4cm.)
See Colour Illustration and Detail
Literature
BRITTEN, F.J. Olds Clocks And Watches And Their Makers (London, 1922)
Lot Essay
Britten notes that a Samuel Pemberton, Son & Mitchell was working in Birmingham in 1818.
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