Arthur Woolf

1966. Stack of Pednandrea Mine, Redruth. Built in 1826.

1966. 8 hp Woolf engine of 1826. Part of the Goodrich Collection, Science Museum, London.

1966. Elevation of 8 hp engine.

1966. Woolf's 33" and 60" engine erected in 1816 at Wheel Abraham.

1966. An inverted engine by Woolf on the continent.

1966. A specimen page from Lean's Engine Reporter (a monthly publication).

Arthur Woolf (1766-1837) was an English engineer.

1766 November 4th. Baptized at Camborne in Cornwall, the eldest son of Arthur Woolf, a carpenter at Dolcoath Mine, and his wife, Jane Newton.

He was apprenticed to a carpenter at Pool, near Camborne, and after the expiry of his indentures he went to London.

Woolf left Cornwall in 1785 to work for Joseph Bramah's engineering works in London. He worked there and at other firms as an engineer and engine builder, when he returned to Cornwall. Michael Loam, inventor of the Man engine, was trained by him.

1800 Employed by Richard Trevithick.

1803 in Trevithick's pay, sent to London with the first high-pressure engine.

c1803 He was working for (at?) the Meux's Brewery in London.

1803 Woolf obtained a patent on an improved boiler for producing high pressure steam.

1805 he patented his best-known invention, a compound steam engine. Later the compound engine was known as machine de Woolf.

Entered in to a parnership with Humphrey Edwards for producing engines and boilers; this agreement was dissolved in 1822.

1813-14 Erected steam stamps for crushing ore at Wheal Fanny, Redruth.

About 1814 he introduced his compound engine into the mines for the purpose of pumping, erecting engines at Wheal Abraham and Wheal Vor in 1814 and 1815.

1824 he erected engines at Wheal Busy.

1825 he erected engines at Wheal Alfred and Wheal Sparnon.

From 1818 until May 1830 he was engineer at Consolidated Mines, and he was at various times consulting engineer to at least thirty Cornish mines. In 1827 he erected engines at Consolidated Mines.

At Wheal Abraham he established an informal school which produced notable local engineers such as Richard Jenkyn (c.1790–c.1860), Matthew Loam (1794–1875), and Michael Loam (1797–1872).

He also introduced improvements to Richard Trevithick's boiler design. His engines were, however, quickly superseded by Trevithick's high-pressure single-cylinder engine, which had the advantage of greater simplicity in construction.

From about 1816 until 1833 he acted as superintendent of Harveys of Hayle engine foundry.

He was also active as a civil engineer, and a notable construction was the swing-bridge he designed for the Penryn to Falmouth road.

Woolf's first wife died in 1830, aged sixty-seven, and on 15 June 1832 he married Emblin Vincent.

1830 Arthur Woolf of Camborne, Civil Engineer, became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

1837 October 26th. Arthur Woolf died at the Strand, Guernsey

Examples of Woolf compound rotative beam engines may be seen at Abbey Mills Pumping Station and Claymills Pumping Station.

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1838 Obituary

The Council have to regret the loss to the Institution by death of its Member, Arthur Woolf.

This distinguished individual was born at Camborne, in Cornwall.

He was a millwright, and in that capacity went to London, and was employed in Meux's Brewery.

In 1804, he took out a patent for his Two Cylinder Engine, working high pressure steam in a small cylinder, and allowing it to expand in a large one.

When he first commenced erecting engines in Cornwall, he induced the proprietors of the Foundries to improve their machinery, that a better style of workmanship might be used in the manufacture of steam engines; and he introduced an improved Hornblower’s double beat valve.

The work done at the Consolidated Mines, proves him to have been a person of great talents.

In October, 1814, the average duty of the engines in Cornwall was 20.5 millions - Woolf's engine at Wheal Abraham, however, performed 34 millions - and in December 1815, 52 millions; and in May 1816, 57 millions; while the average duty of all the engines reported in Cornwall was 23 millions.

In 1820, Mr. Woolf erected engines at the Consolidated Mines having cylinders of 90 inches in diameter, and a stroke of 10 feet - the most powerful that had ever been constructed.

In December, 1827, a trial took place with one of Woolf's 90-inch engines, and it performed a duty of 63.5 millions - the average duty of 47 engines reported in this year was 32 millions, For some years before his death he received a pension of 100 pounds a year from the proprietors of the Consolidated Mines.

His name is associated with the improvements in the drainage of the Cornish mines; and whatever share posterity may assign to his individual genius in these improvements, his name is recorded in the page of history among those who have dedicated their talents and the opportunities of a long life to the advancement of practical science.

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1874 'Life and Labours of Arthur Woolf of Camborne by S. Hocking Read More.

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See Also

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Sources of Information

• [1] Wikipedia
• A Short History of Naval and Marine Engineering by E. C. Smith. Published 1937
• [2] DNB