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