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Model of William Murdock's Oscillating Engine, 1785.
- Made:
- 1785 in Birmingham
- maker:
- William Murdock


Original model of William Murdock's Oscillating Cylinder Engine, 1785
This is thought to be an original William Murdoch experimental model of 1785. The model’s cylinder is made of wood, with a simple slide valve and eccentric-driven air pump. It is a very early essay in a small and self-contained engine, which Murdock later returned to with the side-lever or bellcrank engine. Murdock's employers, Boulton and Watt, did not pursue the oscillating engine as a design as they did the bellcrank engine, but it was adopted on a considerable scale for early marine engines during the nineteenth century under the auspices of Joseph Maudslay.
Details
- Category:
- Motive Power
- Object Number:
- 1894-133
- Materials:
- wood, wrought iron and complete
- Measurements:
-
overall: 445 x 340 x 232 mm
overall weight:
- type:
- models
- credit:
- Mr. W. Murdock.