I discovered their web site yesterday,
Ah, the Musgrave Needlessly Complex Engine!
Is that vertical axis triple really a barring engine, or is that the tenter-frame driving engine they used to have (which I think was pale blue when I saw it?) Otherwise a vertical axis would be a bit odd for barring, as how would you couple it?
Incidentally I did Wikipedia articles on both barring and Musgrave engines not too long ago. Comments and edits welcome.
The vertcal triple was indeed a blue colour last year and it is not a barring engine
It is a stenter engine
An unusual (and patented) design of engine manufactured by Mather and Platt of Manchester to drive "stentering" machines used in the textile finishing trade to stretch the cloth after dyeing or bleaching. The three identical cylinders are 4" bore and 6" stroke with the cranks equally-spaced at 120 degrees, enabling the engine to start at any point. As with the double-diagonal engine, there is no governor and the speed was regulated by adjusting the steam supply.
It is pictured on the nmes website in Blue
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required