Pencil and ink sketches by James Watt

Made:
1810

Drawing. Pencil and ink sketches by James Watt, endorsed Novr 1st 1810.

This item is part of the contents of the workshop that Scottish engineer James Watt developed at his home, Heathfield, at Handsworth, Birmingham. Although Watt is best known for his work on the steam engine, his workshop contains a wide variety of objects from many different projects, from chemistry to sculpture-copying.

This drawing is one of a set made by Watt during his time in the workshop. They include detail from how to mount a diamond on the end of a wire, to designs for weighing machines, to the construction of the lathe bench present in the workshop. However, the majority concern Watt’s work on his sculpture copying machines, both resident in the workshop. They show how their design evolved over time, including details of framing, feed mechanisms, drill frames and more. These were Watt’s major project in the workshop, and provide us with dates for some of the component parts of the machines stored around the room.

The drawing shows a trussed frame (“The pencil lines are right”); a bar with upturned ends and centre screws, resting on screw ends; a bracketed arrangement, perhaps the first item in another view; a sketch of jointed arms, 2 views (“This is right”); 2 rough pencil sketches, perhaps 2 views of the same thing, one showing a bracket, other showing a trussed frame. 16 1/8" x 10" watermark. I PARSONS / 1807

Details

Category:
James Watt's Garret Workshop
Object Number:
1924-792/423/10
Materials:
paper
type:
drawing