Fig. 47.
One of three. Plain Cylinder, with plates arranged lengthways, 47ft. long, 6ft. diameter, 3/8 inch plates, 30 lbs. pressure. It gave way at the seams over the fire, where the edges of the plates had been injured by injudicious and excessive repairing and caulking. The pieces were sent to great distances. The weakness of boilers with seams from end to end in continuous lines has often been pointed out. Eight of the exploded boilers this year, [No. 5], [No. 15], [No. 20], [No. 24], [No. 44], [No. 48], [No. 50], and [No. 59], and many others in former years were of the same objectionable construction.
The following, not being steam boilers, are not included in the list, but the details may be useful.
Oldbury.
March 10th.
4 killed.
Tar still, 10ft. high, 7ft. diameter, with round top and domed bottom, 3/8 inch plates, and not intended to work at any pressure. The vapour passing away became congealed, and stopped up the small exit pipe, and pressure accumulated sufficiently to burst the weak shaped vessel.