1770s Pumping Engine for Birmingham Canal Co. Smethwick

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Date:1778

Description:Plan of pumping engine, Birmingham Canal Co., Smethwick.

A rare drawing of the 'Smethwick Engine' which is now housed in the Thinktank museum. The engine was the second Boulton & Watt that the Birmingham Canal Navigation bought (the first was at Spon Lane), hence the caption 'Navigation Engine No. 2'. The engine began work in 1779 and worked until 1891. In 1897 it was dismantled and re-erected at the Canal Co.’s Ocker Hill depot at Tipton. The engine was presented to the Birmingham Museum of Science & Industry in 1959, and is usually referred to as 'The Smethwick Engine'. It is currently on display in Thinktank at Millenium Point, Birmingham.

This drawing is part of the Archives of Soho collection, which is held by Birmingham City Archives [Ref. MS3147/Portfolio/5/597a]

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