Re: Engine and boiler went through a building fire
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 4:13 pm
Fred,
Yes, it's sort of forgotten history or never taught. Murdoch was definitely a significant part of early steam. He also pioneered coal gasification and set up processing, scrubbing, storage and distribution for home lighting and cooking near his facility. As well as a supply of coke for area blacksmiths and foundries. He worked for Watt as a field superintendent. Watt threatened to fire him if he experimented with strong steam any more after his road vehicle tests. I think it's safe to say Watt and his patent delayed the industrial revolution by 10 er so years. Although considering these early boilers were built cast and wrought iron, he likely saved countless lives as well. Trevethick was a bit of a loose cannon and fearless, his attitude was ''That one blew up, lets build another one'' Sometimes that's what it takes though, similar to our early rocket program.
Out of all the people up to that point in the late 1800's 1890 onward, Whitney is the guy that got it right with his Motorette design. Many say Duryea etc, but they were dismal performers in comparison. The motorette was easy and reliable starting, quiet, easy to drive, comfortable and most importantly to the buying public, fast uphill and downhill. The Stanleys copied his car, added a few features which they patented, most significant was wire winding the boiler which allowed them to double the operating pressure and the vehicle could achieve the unheard of speeds of 40 mph. They sold their ''design'' to Locomobile which largely infringed on the Whitney patent, lawsuits were filed and Whitney won all of them. Chasing the genealogy, the Motorette really began our automotive industry, based on what I've read. The quadracycle was an early experiment that never got close to production. The curved dash olds didn't appear until 1901. Several other small concerns that never produced in significant numbers.
Ron
Yes, it's sort of forgotten history or never taught. Murdoch was definitely a significant part of early steam. He also pioneered coal gasification and set up processing, scrubbing, storage and distribution for home lighting and cooking near his facility. As well as a supply of coke for area blacksmiths and foundries. He worked for Watt as a field superintendent. Watt threatened to fire him if he experimented with strong steam any more after his road vehicle tests. I think it's safe to say Watt and his patent delayed the industrial revolution by 10 er so years. Although considering these early boilers were built cast and wrought iron, he likely saved countless lives as well. Trevethick was a bit of a loose cannon and fearless, his attitude was ''That one blew up, lets build another one'' Sometimes that's what it takes though, similar to our early rocket program.
Out of all the people up to that point in the late 1800's 1890 onward, Whitney is the guy that got it right with his Motorette design. Many say Duryea etc, but they were dismal performers in comparison. The motorette was easy and reliable starting, quiet, easy to drive, comfortable and most importantly to the buying public, fast uphill and downhill. The Stanleys copied his car, added a few features which they patented, most significant was wire winding the boiler which allowed them to double the operating pressure and the vehicle could achieve the unheard of speeds of 40 mph. They sold their ''design'' to Locomobile which largely infringed on the Whitney patent, lawsuits were filed and Whitney won all of them. Chasing the genealogy, the Motorette really began our automotive industry, based on what I've read. The quadracycle was an early experiment that never got close to production. The curved dash olds didn't appear until 1901. Several other small concerns that never produced in significant numbers.
Ron