“Heslop’s Winding and Pumping Engine. Letters Patent, A.D. 1790, No. 1760.—This engine was erected at Kell’s Pit, for raising coals, about the year 1795, afterwards removed to Castlerigg Pit, in 1847, to Wreah Pit, all near Whitehaven. At the latter place it continued to raise coals, also to work a pump, by means of a cast-iron beam placed above the main beam, until the summer of 1878, when it was removed here. Presented to the Commissioner of Patents by the Earl of Lonsdale, through Mr. H. A. Fletcher, M. Inst. C.E. Transmitted from Whitehaven to the Patent Museum by the London and North-Western Railway Company, at half rate. It will seem that this engine has two open-topped cylinders, one on each side of the main centre beam, and both single acting. The cylinders are respectively the ‘hot cylinder’ and the ‘cold cylinder.’ The steam, on being admitted into the first, or ‘hot’ cylinder, raises the piston by its pressure underneath; the return stroke is then made by the weight of the connecting rod and by the momentum given to the fly-wheel. The eduction valve being now open, the steam passes from this cylinder to the second or ‘cold’ cylinder by means of the connecting pipe, which, being constantly immersed in cold water, produces sufficient condensation to ‘kill’ or reduce it to atmospheric pressure as it enters and fills the cold cylinder. The cold piston having arrived at the top of its stroke, and its cylinder being thus filled with steam and the injection valve being now open, a jet of water is admitted, thus bringing a vacuum into play. By this arrangement of two cylinders Heslop obtained advantages closely approaching those of the separate condenser, and effected a signal superiority over the atmospheric engine of Newcomen, even as it then existed with all the structural improvements introduced by Smeaton, who was compelled to admit that, in its best state, 60 per cent, of steam was wasted by alternate heating and cooling of the cylinder. No other engine of this type now remains in existence, and it is therefore appropriate that this one, the last worked, should be preserved.”
On seeing the above W. E. Anstice, Esq., at once wrote to say they had three of the same engines now at work, and which had been at work for the past eighty years in the Madeley Wood Co.’s Field; that they still had five, and had had eight. This led to an interesting correspondence in the course of which Mr. Anstice sent up an original drawing, which proved to be one of an earlier engine even than the one they had, and the one for which the original specification was taken out.
The fact is that about Heslop’s time, and whilst Smeaton was at work effecting improvements in Newcomen’s engines, and whilst Watt, with the experience of those who went before him, was to some extent endeavouring to strike out a course for himself and preparing to eclipse the productions of his predecessors, there were a number of minor geniuses engaged in carrying into effect their own or others suggestions: men whose names are little known in consequence of having been thrust aside by greater or more favoured inventors than themselves. Heslop, Murdock, and Cartwright appear have been among these; also Avery and Sadler, and other local schemers and inventors like the Glazebrooks, the Williamses, and Hornblowers. During the latter half of the last century the inventive faculty, stimulated by what had already been achieved, appears to have been in great activity. The iron-making and mining interests were undergoing great expansion, and men like the Darbys, the Reynoldses, Wilkinsons, Guests, and others, were just then prepared to avail themselves of means which would enable them to clear out the water from their mines, that they might bring up minerals from a greater depth, or add to the force of the blast in their smelting operations; and several of these in return rendered Watt and others great services. Wilkinson gave the order for the first engine Watt made at Soho to blow his furnaces at Broseley, where it was erected and ready for use early in 1776. Watt’s first rotary engine was made for Mr. Reynolds, of Ketley, in 1782, to drive a corn mill. The “Philosophical Transactions,” and Urban’s Magazine seem to have been mediums of correspondence, and the means of communicating so much of the discoveries and inventions of the authors as they deemed fit to the public. We have thirty or more volumes of extracts from original communications in these, commencing about 1736, which Mr. William Reynolds had written out, most of them beautiful, and many remarkable specimens of that ornate style of calligraphy so much cultivated at that time.
Also a large folio volume of original drawings and designs, admirably executed. Some by Hornblower, Glazebrook, Sadler, Reynolds, Wilkinson, Banks, Anstice, Chinn, Price, Rogerson, Emerson, Telford, and others. The Hornblowers appear to have trodden closely upon the heels of Watt at one time, and so closely that Watt wrote to Boulton saying, “If they have really found a prize it will ruin us.” We add a list of these drawings, with dates attached.
No. 1 is a small steam engine made by James Sadler which was at work on the hill at the Dale in 1792.
No. 2 Drawing shews Sadler’s plan of rotary motion, with crank for winding engine, dated, 1793.
No. 3 S. Venables’ drawing of Sadler’s engine as it stood when T. Griffiths was putting it up at the Bank 1793.
No. 4 Is a plan of Sadler’s engine sent by Dr. Beddows, May, 1793.
No. 5 Are Drawings of an engine from J. Sadler’s, but which was never completed, 1794.
No. 6 Drawings and description of Thos. Savory’s Engine for raising water by the help of fire, June 14th, 1799; the description states that the inventor entertained the Royal Society by shewing a small model which he made to work before them.