Breast-shot Water Wheel, c. 1888
- Made:
- 1883-1891 in Wickham Market
Model, (scale 1:12), of breast shot water wheel ventilated buckets with rack and pinion operated sluice, by Whitmore & Binyon, Wickham Market, Suffolk, England, 1883-1891.
This late design of waterwheel by the prominent Suffolk millwrighting and engineering company demonstrates how steady incremental innovation could keep a long estabilshed technology viable long after alternatives like steam or even internal combustion engines had become available. The lightweight 'suspension' construction, power take-off via a spur wheel driven by circumferential tooth-ring, and ventilated buckets all contributed to the wheel being able to maximise the amount of useful work done using a relatively small fall of water.
Details
- Category:
- Motive Power
- Object Number:
- 1888-238
- Materials:
- brass, cast iron, complete, paint, tin plated, wood and wrought iron
- Measurements:
-
overall: 665 x 800 x 615 mm
object weight: 51kg
- type:
- waterwheels
- credit:
- Whitmore and Binyon
