Member postings for Michael Moore

Thanks, guys.

This date is incorrect, apologies. What seems clear is that he knew of the model's existence by at least 1761, but it appears it never returned to Glasgow until 1763. Between these dates Watt's was experimenting and building around the premise of Newcomen's engine. A couple of extracts below from Carnegie on Watt's experimenting in the interim, and once the model arrived.

1.

"How did he obtain the necessary appliances and apparatus, one asks. The answer is easy. He made them. Apothecaries' vials were his steam boilers, and hollowed-out canes his steam-pipes. Numerous experiments followed and much was learnt."

2.

"The Newcomen model arrived at last and was promptly repaired, but was not successful when put in operation. Steam enough could not be obtained, although the boiler seemed of ample capacity. The fire was urged by blowing and more steam generated, and still it would not work; a few strokes of the piston and the engine stopped."

Ha!

And yes I've managed to talk the Mrs into going to that convention in Leamington. Both Stuart and Chiltern Steam are there.

I'll probably start on one of those wonderfully cheap pre-machined hot air Stirling engines before touching a pre-machined Stuart.

Just realized Mike Potts alludes to the model Newcomen engine at the Hunter museum in a post of his on this thread; apologies.

I should look into the Newcomen Society as it appears to be the best place to go to for further reading on this engine.

Should add, I've joined so as to learn a bit more about steam engines and metal working, and tips for eventually putting together a pre-machined model.

Hi

It occurred to me that I've been posting away without introducing myself. Apologies.

I'm not mechanically-minded nor have I a basic foundation in maths, physics, and engineering but I enjoy history, sketching, and watching people making things on youtube. Would love a lathe and mill, but I've costly jobs around the house coming out of my ears, and I have an art room as it is.

I've been putting £40-£60 away each month on payday as I'm planning on buying a Stuart S50 (machined kit) to put together. That's about it. Ta.

Good one, Michael.

I'm reading that Sisson, who supposedly manufactured that model, went bankrupt a number of times and even went to prison for failing to cough up money.

On reading about these tinkerers and innovators of the early industrial revolution, I'm struck by how many ended their days in poverty. It seems Sisson fared well in the end but many did not.

Might be of interest to some. I'm on chapter III of Andrew Carnegie's biography of James Watt, and I've stumbled on some info regarding a model Newcomen engine.

The short of it, while working at Glasgow university Watt found out (in 1771) that the university had purchased a model of Newcomen's engine but it had been sent to London for repairs. He promptly raised funds and requested its return. Unfortunately the model could not go past a few strokes of the piston before stopping; the same issues regarding scaling down alluded to in this thread, perhaps.

From what I can gather it's on display today at the Hunterian Museum. I wonder if it's ever tested or fired up. I did try and find out online but to no avail.

Learnt what a centrifugal governor does. It's one of those terms that takes more than one attempt to both understand and pronounce for the first time.

According to Mike Potts there's no explicit documentary evidence pertaining to the two Cornwall engines, only circumstantial evidence.

Edit: incorrect surname

Edited By Michael Moore on 12/09/2022 14:07:42

A lovely build. Those S50's are fabulous to watch, especially the piston arm.

Ah you're here, Mike. That's looks a great channel, I plan on watching the William Pitt Winding engine lecture after I finish your other one. Thanks, Mike.

Funnily enough I've been looking at a copy of 'The Steam Engine of Thomas Newcomen' by Rolt and Allen on ebay. I'll check to see if it's the 97 edition. It has a red and green cover and priced around £20-£30 if I recall.

Edited By Michael Moore on 12/09/2022 13:21:30

Edited By Michael Moore on 12/09/2022 13:26:56

Thanks to all for the posts, picture albums, and links, they're helping me get a better understanding. I do plan to visit the Newcomen engine in the Black Country at some point as I'm fairly close in North Brum.

I've found what looks to be an interesting video lecture (youtube) by Mike Potts on the history of the Newcomen engine. I fell asleep watching it last night, but I plan on finishing tonight.

Thanks all. I'll attempt to process these posts and links tonight. Everything has to be read and watched scores of times before it sinks in with me. Ta.

Hi

Just wondering about the process for the cool water injection into the cylinder to create the vacuum. Do we know how was this was done on an early 18th-century Newcomen engine, and how it's done on models of today.

I thought perhaps with gravity by housing water higher than cylinder, but I'm not sure if this would work as I'm an absolute beginner to models, engineering, physics, etc.

Ta,