Many thanks for the note about Cruquius.

I have known that engine for many years and have examined it on several
occasions. Although it is a compound Cornish engine and therefore the
closest thing we have remaining to a Sims type engine the general term for
its design is to call it an Annular Compound Beam Engine. There is another,
very small example with a single beam, in the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn,
Detroit. In addition, the London Science Museum have the cylinder assembly
of another one in store. To the best of my knowledge those are the only
others.

Readers might like to know that the Cruquius engine was recently adapted to
operate by means of hydraulic rams for demonstration purposes.

Although I would normally argue that steam is always the best means to
demonstrate a steam engine the use of hydraulics in this case seems most
logical. The result is very satisfactory.

Re the translation of Cruquius being octopus, I didn't know that previously,
but how appropriate. I often think of what the astonishment of people who
visited the Netherlands in the, say, 1850s. To see that enormous engine
appearing on the horizon with all eight beams working in unison. It must
have been rather like seeing a huge mechanical spider in a rage. it makes me
wonder how many fell of their bicycles! :-)

Incidentally, for readers who are interested, it strikes me that some might
be interested in the annual Journals of ISSES (International Stationary
Steam Engine Society). Anyone interested in a PDF file that gives details of
the Society and its publications may e-mail me, off list, to
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Paul Stephens
IT Manager
David S Smith Corrugated Bristol

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-----Original Message-----
From: Wolfgang Ebert [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 10:07
Subject: AW: Sims combine engines


Pete and Paul:

The website of the "Cruquius" pumping-station is

http://www.cruquiusmuseum.nl/

By the way: "Cruquius" is the Dutch word for "Octopus". The name was given
because of the typical moving of the beams.

Dr. Wolfgang Ebert
The German Society for Industrial Archaeology

**************************************************************

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Im Auftrag von
Tolver Road
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 14. August 2003 20:50
An: [log in to unmask]
Betreff: Re: Sims combine engines

Paul,

The 144-inch Harvey-built engine at Cruqhuis in Holland is a compound engine
of the Sims type although it is not what you call typical.  If you are not
familiar with it, the high-pressure cylinder was placed outside the
low-pressure cylinder.  The engine is connected to eight 1.6m diameter
pumps.  There is a nice website but I can't remember offhand the URL.
Regarding Lean and engine reporting there is a new publication entitled 'Mr
Lean and the Engine Reporters' by Brigit Howard, published by the Trevithick
Society.

Pete Joseph


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