at the Lewes Meeting^ 1852. 



319 



regards economy of fuel have been obtained, which must be viewed with 

 peculiar satisfaction by the Royal Agricultural Society, from their having been 

 the means of calling forth that talent which has given to the British farmer the 

 moveable steam-engine, and other machinery, in so great a state of perfection. 



The number of these engines exhibited at Lewes was much greater than at 

 any previous meeting, and the improvement in them very evident ; we would, 

 however, suggest that, in lieu of expending money on ornamenting or beauti- 

 fying the engine and boiler by unnecessary labour, it be spent on the essential 

 parts, by using the best material that it is possible to procure, and by per- 

 fecting the workmanship. 



A moveable steam-engine, having to be exposed to the weather, is the better 

 for the absence of bright work where not really required, as it is rarely kept 

 clean, and the material that has to be employed in getting off the rust fre- 

 quently finds its way into the bearings, and produces great injury. 



We now proceed to notice the engines. 



Messrs. Clayton, Shuttleworth, and Co.'s 6-horse moveable engine was, in 

 construction, similar to that exhibited at Exeter, of very good workmanship, 

 and fire-box furnished with copper tube plate and copper bridge, with a view 

 to economise fuel — a result, in this respect, exceeded by two other com- 

 petitors; but still we consider this engine in every way creditable to the 

 makers, and worthy to be '"'highly commended ^ The 4-horse engine, by the 

 same makers, resembled the above for the most part ; but some of the ap- 

 pliances for saving fuel being omitted in this case, and the engine being also 

 of smaller power, the result worked out was inferior to the 6-horse. 



Mr. Freeman Roe, Strand, London : 4-horse moveable engine : workmanship 

 very inferior: general arrangement ill-designed and clumsy, Mith cast-iron freely 

 used in the place of wrought. The duty done will be seen, on reference to the 

 tabular statem.ent, to have been 93"9 lbs. of coal per horse-power per hour.* 



Messrs. Hornsby and Son : 6-horse moveable. This engine standing first in 

 its class with respect to economy of fuel, and being very good both in con- 

 struction and workmanship, we considered it to be deserving of the first prize. 

 The cylinder of this engine being within the steam-chest of the boiler prevents 

 condensation, and retains the pressure throughout the stroke of the piston ; to 

 this arrangement we attribute the high duty of the engine and its economy in 

 fuel : the arrangement of the cylinder and force-pump also rendering it im- 

 possible that any accident can occur on first putting the engine to work in 

 frosty weather, by preventing ice from being formed in them. Several of the 

 details are very good and deserving of attention, viz. the mode of compensation 

 for the wear of the guide-brasses of the piston, and the method of lubricating 

 the same, being, in our opinion, very effective. 



The hinder axle being cranked, and embracing the fire-box at the back, 

 obviates the necessity of removing the axle when any repairs are needed to 

 the fire-box. 



The ash-pan is well placed, completely enclosing the furnace, and rendering 

 the whole more safe from accident by fire ; the governors are very good and 

 sensitive ; hence the admirable steadiness with which the engine worked. 



No. 2 : a 4-horse portable, by the same makers : similarly constructed to 

 the above, but of smaller power, and without the water-heating apparatus, 

 which will account for the duty being less than that of the prize engine ; but 

 still the result in this instance also was very satisfactory. 



*^ Mr. Freeman Roe has written to request that the result of the ti'ial of his 

 engine might not be published, as in taking it to pieces he discovered that it had 

 been wrongly put together. This may be qinte true ; but an exhibitor who does 

 not ascertain that his engine is in working order before it goes to trial has only 

 himself to blame should the result be unsatisfactory ; and to allow of the withdrawal 

 of the recorded performance of an implement which has worked badly would be 

 to establish a most inconvenient precedent. The application was consequently 

 refused.— H. Thompson. 



