1780s Double Expansive Engine, Soho Manufactory
Plan and side view of the 'Double Expansive Engine', Soho Manufactory, by James Watt.
In 1781, James Watt paid considerable attention to utilising the expansive power of steam in his engines. He ...
1780s Double Expansive Engine's Equalizing Beam, Soho Manufactory
Drawing of the equalizing beam for the double expansive engine, Soho Manufactory.
In 1781, James Watt paid considerable attention to utilising the expansive power of steam in his engines. He may ...
1780s Double-acting Engine
First Drawing of the 'Small Reciprocating Engine' (Double-acting Engine) by James Watt.
The idea of using steam to push a piston both up and down, thus allowing an engine to make a powered stroke ...
1780s Double-acting Engine's Working Gear, Soho Manufactory
Drawing of the working gear of the double-acting engine, Soho Manufactory.
The idea of using steam to push a piston both up and down, thus allowing an engine to make a powered stroke in both directions, ...
1780s Framing for Samuel Whitbread's Engine, London
Reverse side view of the framing for Samuel Whitbread’s engine, London.
The parallel motion was first used on an engine for the London brewer Samuel Whitbread, in 1784. The engine was single-acting, ...
1780s Parallel Motion for Thomas Allingham of Rotherhithe
Parallel Motion for Thomas Allingham, Rotherhithe.
Watt developed the parallel motion to keep the piston rod absolutely vertical as the beam moved up and down. If the piston was slightly at an angle, ...
1780s Steam Wheel
Drawing of steam wheel, circa 1781.
The steam wheel was Watt’s first design for using steam to create rotary (round and round) motion. The steam wheel was essentially a steam turbine. It consisted ...
Alfred Bird - Grave at Keyhill Cemetery
Alfred Bird manufactured and sold custard and baking powder from his chemist's shop beneath the old Market Hall in Bell Street, Birmingham. His custard is famous as he replaced the eggs with cornflour ...
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Photograph of the designer of the Great Eastern, showing anchor chains of the ship. Photographed by Robert Howlett; albumen print, 1857.
James Watt & Co. of Soho, Handsworth, manufactured the screw ...
James Watt copying press, Handsworth
James Watt developed the copy press so that copies of letters and business documents could easily be retained. The machines were made at the Soho Manufactory and supplied to a wide variety of customers ...
James Watt's Experiment Book
This is the first page of James Watt's laboratory notebook, describing his experiments on copal varnish, latent heat, etc.
To see the notebook in its entirety, page by page, go to Handsworth Histories ...
James Watt's Laboratory Experiment Book
James Watt's laboratory experiment book in it's entirety, page by page. It records, in Watt's own words and handwriting, his calculations, results and observations. It includes the description of his ...
Soho House and Manufactory
These four small photographs show Soho House and Manufactory in Handsworth.
The photograph on the bottom left is the only known photo of Soho Manufactory during its demolition. The photograph of Soho ...
Soho Manufactory, Handsworth
An early photograph of the Soho Manufactory.
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper, sold by Morgan and Viggers Ltd of 81-85 Soho Road, Handsworth. Dated 13th March 1926.
Original pamphlet scanned from item in Local Studies and History Department, Central Library, ...
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper, sold by Morgan and Viggers Ltd of 81-85 Soho Road, Handsworth. Dated 13th March 1926.
Original pamphlet scanned from item in Local Studies and History Department, Central Library, ...
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper, sold by Morgan and Viggers Ltd of 81-85 Soho Road, Handsworth. Dated 13th March 1926.
Original pamphlet scanned from item in Local Studies and History Department, Central Library, ...
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper
The Ewbank Carpet Sweeper, sold by Morgan and Viggers Ltd of 81-85 Soho Road, Handsworth. Dated 13th March 1926.
Original pamphlet scanned from item in Local Studies and History Department, Central Library, ...