Grazebrook beam engine
{{Short description|1817 large blower engine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2016}}
File:Grazebrook Beam Engine.jpg
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The Grazebrook Engine is an 1817 beam engine that was used for blowing air over the hot coals of a blast furnace to increase the heat. It is now found as sentinel sculpture on the Dartmouth Circus roundabout at the entrance of the A38(M) in Birmingham, England. It is believed to be the largest steam engine used in Birmingham.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
It was built in 1817 to the designs of Watt, who had a foundry in Soho, Birmingham, by Grazebrook & Whitehouse for their Dudley foundry in Dudley, Worcestershire. It provided air for two blast furnaces.{{sfn|Dudley|2015}} In 1912, it was retired, remaining on site as a standby engine. It was dismantled in 1964, and is now displayed on the Dartmouth Circus roundabout at the entrance of the A38(M) (Aston Expressway) and the A4540 (Dartmouth Middleway).{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
Technical details
This is a typical example of an early nineteenth century engine, it comprises a vertical double acting steam cylinder coupled via an {{convert|8|m|ft}} rocking beam to a double acting air cylinder.{{cite web|url= http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/5932/#sthash.V1oeUh9s.dpuf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043211/http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/5932/#sthash.V1oeUh9s.dpuf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2016-03-04| title=PMSA database | website=pmsa.org.uk | location=UK }}
The beam is made of cast iron; it is {{convert|28|ft|m}} long and weighs {{convert|10|LT|tonne}}. The steam cylinder is {{convert|42|in|mm}} in diameter and has a stroke of {{convert|8|ft|m}}. It was designed to run at between 12 and 16 strokes per minute. Steam was provided by a bank of six Lancashire boilers. A pressure regulator vessel was fitted to smooth out the air flow. It provided air at {{convert|5|psi|kPa}} to two blast furnaces.{{sfn|Dudley|2015}}
The engine house was specially built using lime mortar so that the structure could 'flex' with the movement of the engine.{{sfn|Dudley|2015}}
M. & W. Grazebrook
Grazebrook had a works in Peartree Lane, Netherton, possibly during 1952/53.
M. & W. Grazebrook's history can be traced to 1641, when Michael Grazebrook went into business in Stourbridge. The company had a glassworks in Stourbridge, a forge at Halesowen in the 1700s and their own colliery in Coseley. It then focused on iron production and fabrications moving to Netherton in 1800.{{cite web|url=http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/Black-Country-s-industrial-1950s-boom-years/story-26407806-detail/story.html#ixzz3cBBfLDlK|title=Dudley's industrial might in 1950s boom years}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Image of {{convert|84|ft|m}} pressure vessel It was served by the Grazebrook arm of the Dudley Canal.
References
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
- {{cite web|title=Grazebrook Beam Engine engine house|website=Black Country History|publisher=Dudley Archives|access-date=3 June 2015|url=https://www.blackcountryhistory.org/collections/getrecord/GB145_p_985/|location=GB145_p/985|ref={{sfnref|Dudley|2015}} }}
- {{cite web|title=Records of M. & W. Grazebrook, Ltd., Netherton (heavy engineers and boiler makers)|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/1fd695a0-386a-44b6-86fe-428a6d427852|website=Discovery|publisher=The National Archives, Kew|accessdate=5 June 2015}}
External links
- [http://wamscollections.collectionspress.com/collections/getrecord/GB145_p_923/# Perspective Sketch – Dudley Archives]
- [https://photo-archive.expressandstar.co.uk/collections/getrecord/GB149_D-EXP_P_I32_418 Photograph of the engine at Netherton, June 1964]
Category:1817 establishments in England
Category:Preserved beam engines
Category:History of Worcestershire
Category:History of Birmingham, West Midlands