Fowler Pump

I have found that if you put fairy liquid in the water when you first us it works well, as long as you can put up with the mass production of bubbles.

Mart> We have now acquired an original Fowler 1PA water pump set. A nice

Saddlery places should have neatsfoot oil.

Tom

As I know a bit about the tanning of leather, I'm not so sure Neatsfoot oil is the best thing to use in this context - although I'd obviously stand to be corrected. My thinking goes along the lines that the tanning process goes to great lengths to remove the naturally occurring fats which, when they rot, assist in breaking down the collagen fibres of which the leather is made. Replacing them with a something like Neatsfoot Oil - itself made from animal products - may only serve to return the leather (a kind of fossil after tanning) to its natural state and accelerate decomposition..

For myself, I would be more inclined to treat leather seals, diaphragms & gaskets with an inert wax, applied warm onto warm, dry leather, which should be so treated until the wax lies upon the surface indicating saturation. Wipe off the excess & refit.

A further small point is that an inert wax will last better in intermittent use and (if used in the real world) would not contaminate drinking water.

Usual disclaimers!

regards,

Kim Siddorn.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc!

The pump, as you probably know, was made by Thomas and Sons of Worcester, the owner of the firm being known locally as 'Pumpy Thomas' The cottages erected for the workers apparently still survive. The No1 is the smallest size, and I have seen a No.5, which was a humungous lump of cast iron......I 'm not sure if there was No.6. My own No.3 appears on Martin's photos that he took at Lamport.

I had new leather cups for mine when I restored it, about 12 years ago. They came with a sort of waxy finish, but were extremly hard and rigid, with no hope of getting them in the bore of the pump. I soaked them in Neatsfopot oil for a few days, and they became far more pliable, It was then possible to fit them in the bore, but it still wasn't easy. I wrote an article about the restoration for SE, but I doubt if the back number is still available.

Since then, I've never had to disturb the innards, and its still pumping away merrily, so I don't imagine the neatsfoot oil can have done any harm.

I remain to be convinced that making it into a bubble making machine is quite the way to go :-)

Regards

Philip T-E

mild lubrication only, not bubble maker :-))

Mart> The pump, as you probably know, was made by Thomas and Sons of

Thanks for the replies, very interesting! I now have an idea of what I am going to do with the leather seals and Philip has identified the pump for me!

It always amazes me how willingly and quickly queries are answered on this NG, thanks again!

David