Difference between revisions of "Kidwelly Tinplate Works: Rolling Mill Engines"
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'''Foden Engines | '''Foden Engines | ||
[[Foden|Edward Foden]] of Sandbach supplied the engines mentioned in the advert. They directly drove the (hot) black-plate hot rolling mills mentioned in the advert. The engines had heavy flywheels of 24 ft diameter. | [[Foden|Edward Foden]] of Sandbach supplied the engines mentioned in the advert. They directly drove the (hot) black-plate hot rolling mills mentioned in the advert. The engines had heavy flywheels of 24 ft diameter. The engines also drove the 'crocodile shears' and the doubling press. | ||
[[George Watkins]] thought that the engines were probably installed as 48-inch bore simple engines in the 1870s, using steam at 50-60 psi. He states or suggests that the engines were converted to tandem compound by the edition of a 24-inch cylinder with steam admission by piston valves. He suggested that this was probably done in 1892 when the [[Babcock and Wilcox]] water tube boilers were installed. He suggests that the modification may have been done by Price of Llanelly or R. Nevill of Neath. However, the name [[Bright and Garrard]] of Carmarthen can be seen on the bedplate of one (or both?) of the engines. | [[George Watkins]] thought that the engines were probably installed as 48-inch bore simple engines in the 1870s, using steam at 50-60 psi.<ref>'Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain', Vol 4, by George Watkins, Landmark Publishing, 1993</ref> He states or suggests that the engines were converted to tandem compound by the edition of a 24-inch cylinder with steam admission by piston valves. He suggested that this was probably done in 1892 when the [[Babcock and Wilcox]] water tube boilers were installed. He suggests that the modification may have been done by Price of Llanelly or R. Nevill of Neath. However, the name [[Bright and Garrard]] of Carmarthen can be seen on the bedplate of one (or both?) of the engines. | ||
George Watkins includes a photo of one engine, taken in 1958. Certain features are consistent with an HP cylinder being added on top of the original cylinder. A clerestory has been added above the engine, supported by four iron or steel columns. An accesss platform at the top of the LP cylinder has a rather ad hoc appearance (as does the pipe conveying steam from the HP to the LP cylinder). | |||
== See Also == | == See Also == |
Revision as of 12:14, 3 February 2020
Note: This is a sub-section of Kidwelly Tinplate Works
Three of the steam engines installed to drive rolling mills survived long after the works closed and became derelict. More informatiojn below. Eventually part of the site became a museum and the engines and associated equipment were cosmetically restored. Sadly, the museum is now closed, and its future is uncertain.
The following information was provided when the works were advertised for sale in 1899:-
'The plant, buildings, etc., in the upper portion of the works are of very recent construction, and consequently in first-class order. In the Upper Works there are 8 complete black-plate mills (26in. and 30in.), driven by 2 inverted tandem compound engines (by Foden and [at] Sandbach); 2 sets of Babcock's patent tubular boilers, 2 of Lowcock's patent fuel economisers, 6 pairs of cold rolls with separate engine, and other necessary buildings, and plant.'[1]
Foden Engines
Edward Foden of Sandbach supplied the engines mentioned in the advert. They directly drove the (hot) black-plate hot rolling mills mentioned in the advert. The engines had heavy flywheels of 24 ft diameter. The engines also drove the 'crocodile shears' and the doubling press.
George Watkins thought that the engines were probably installed as 48-inch bore simple engines in the 1870s, using steam at 50-60 psi.[2] He states or suggests that the engines were converted to tandem compound by the edition of a 24-inch cylinder with steam admission by piston valves. He suggested that this was probably done in 1892 when the Babcock and Wilcox water tube boilers were installed. He suggests that the modification may have been done by Price of Llanelly or R. Nevill of Neath. However, the name Bright and Garrard of Carmarthen can be seen on the bedplate of one (or both?) of the engines.
George Watkins includes a photo of one engine, taken in 1958. Certain features are consistent with an HP cylinder being added on top of the original cylinder. A clerestory has been added above the engine, supported by four iron or steel columns. An accesss platform at the top of the LP cylinder has a rather ad hoc appearance (as does the pipe conveying steam from the HP to the LP cylinder).