Model Maudslay single cylinder oscillating steam engine made by J. Spiller, Battersea, c. 1820

This very fine model has an oscillating cylinder, which concept was later adopted by Joseph Maudslay on a large scale for marine engines. The model has many attributes which can be identified in other models by Maudslay - the details of the flywheel and crankshaft standards, for example. Maudslay was a prolific model-maker, and it seems likely that he commissioned this model (and quite possibly one other) from Joel Spiller of Battersea, himself a millwright and engineer, possibly because he did not have the capacity at his own works, for example.