316 Report on the Exhibition and Trial of Implements 



Steam Engines. 



We have the honour to report to you the observations made by us on the 

 trials of Fixed and Portable Steam-engines at the meeting of the Society held 

 at Chester in July last. 



Eiglit-horse Portahle Steam-Engines. — {See Table I., p. 317.) — We awarded 

 the first prize to Messrs. Tuxford and Sons, of Boston. The -workmansliip 

 was of excellent quality, and the consumption of fuel low. 



The workmanship of the engine of Messrs. Clayton and Shuttleworth, of 

 Lincoln, to whom we awarded the second prize, was equally good. This 

 engine was second in consumption of fuel. 



We highly commended the engine of Messrs. Hornsby and Sons, of Grant- 

 ham. In consumjotion of fuel it was third in order, whilst the arrangement 

 of the engine and quality of workmanship were such as entitled the makers to 

 great credit. 



We commended the engines of Messrs. Eansome and Sims, of Ipswich, 

 and Messrs. Brown and May, of Devizes, as being of a good, serviceable, and 

 economical construction. 



Table II. (p. 318) exhibits the perfomiance of the 8-horse engines with the 

 coal of the district. 



Twelve-horse Portahle Steam- Engines. — (See Table III., p. 318.) — Our 

 award of the first prize to Messrs. Hornsby and Sons, of Grantham, was 

 determined mainly by the quality and design of their engine. 



Its arrangements were of a superior description, and the details of its fixed 

 and working i^arts exceedingly well proportioned. Though this engine is 

 somewhat more costly than the rest, we found that the excess in price was 

 occasioned by the use of materials of better quality, tending to i^romote dura- 

 bility in the engine and to lessen the cost of repairs. 



The engine worked up to its full power (12-horse) at a less pressure of 

 steam than the others, and is better fitted for the variable service required 

 from it on the farm by reason of its possessing fuller command over its work. 



We believe that the advantage possessed by the other engines in respect to 

 their lower consumption of fuel would be found to disappear in actual service, 

 when the appliances for reducing the area of their fire-grates would be re- 

 moved. The fire-grate of Messrs. Hornsby and Sons' engine was in its 

 ordinary state. 



We highly commended Messrs. Tuxford and Sons' engine, on account of 

 the excellent quality of its workmanshii) and its favourable performance. 



We also highly commended the engine of Messrs. Ransome and Sims, 

 who have succeeded in making a very cheap engine which performed its 

 work well. 



Many jiarts of this engine are made of cast-iron Which in others are made 

 of wrought-iron and brass. The rims and tires of the wheels, the slides, 

 slide-bars, and cross-heads are of cast-iron. 



We considered the engine of Messrs. Clayton and Shuttleworth well entitled 

 to be highly commended, the cost being moderate, and workmanship, material, 

 and performance very good. 



Fixed Engines. — (See Table TV., p. 319.) —We awarded the first prize 

 to Messi-s. Barrett, Exall, and Andrewes, of Reading. 



This engine was lowest in consumption of fuel. Its workmanship was 

 very good and construction simple. 



We awarded the sec6nd prize to Messrs. Hornsby and Sous, of Grantham, 

 the design and workmanship being very good and consumption of fuel low. 



The engines of Messrs. Ransome and Sims, and of Messrs. Clayton and 

 Shuttleworth, were simple, serviceable, and well made. 



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