Engineering Engravings and 'Engraving of the Month'
Before the advent of being able to print photographs, illustrations were printed from masters which were hand cut on blocks of wood (usually boxwood) and known as woodcuts, drawn on stone (lithographs) or engraved or etched into metal plates (Intaglio engravings or etchings).
This largely undervalued art form is often the only link we have with some of the equipment manufactured by long defunct makers, the quality of most engineering engravings is extremely high and the degree of technical accuracy (where there is a known survivor to compare with) is phenomenal, making access to original engravings an essential part of any serious engineering historians armoury.
In the UK, a number of now almost forgotten Victorian and Edwardian engravers illustrated catalogues, instruction manuals and engineering newspapers or periodicals. the most prolific signing themselves - HARE, F. RIMBAULT, John Swain, Poyet, and CLIFT, numerous others left their work anonymous. I would love to hear from anyone who knows anything of their history. In the US and Europe there were many equivalents although little trace of them has survived in the UK.
I love the crispness and detail which was achieved in this form and have collected publications containing engravings for a number of years, I would be delighted to hear from anyone with books, catalogues or other original prints from engineering engravings or printers blocks who would be prepared to show / lend / loan / hire or sell them or 'swap' copies (be warned high purchase prices are unlikely to be acceptable !!!)
Here is my all time favourite example and to share some of my collection I will also post an 'Engraving of the Month' - although I cannot guarantee to change these on a monthly basis ! - I am also slowly working towards producing a CD ROM containing a significant number of engravings for the delight of fellow enthusiasts.
Seeing the engraving below in Ronald H. Clark's book 'The Steam Engine Builders of Lincolnshire' at the age of about 12 in Goose's bookshop remaindered bin while waiting for a bus had a profound effect on my life and (along with the purchase of the book for 2/6d) was the first step on the journey which was to lead to my lifelong love of stationary steam engines, engineering engravings, involvement with full sized restoration projects at Eastney and Forncett, building live steam 'small engines' and ultimately the Old Engine House collection and this website.
It was therefore an immense pleasure some 25 years later to be able steam my restored engines for Ronald, who's stirling efforts in the 40's and 50's saved so much information which would otherwise been totally lost, this at a time before the term 'Industrial Archaeology' had been coined and when many of these engines were still in commercial operation.
Sadly, Ronald is no longer with us, having passed away quietly to meet the 'Great Engineer' in November 1999, however his spirit lives on through his books, all of which will now be available long into the future through the medium of CD ROM, a modern method of re publishing them about which he was highly enthusiastic.
This is the catalogue engraving by Mr HARE, of the 'glass bottle' or 'lantern' engine from about 1877 as built by Hempsted & Co. of the Phoenix Iron Works, Grantham, Lincolnshire, in 3, 4 and 6 nhp sizes. With feedpump and loaded Watt type governor, the bottle shaped frame is both lightweight, strong and stable, retains oil and protects the motion. Another example of the 'Combined Vertical Engine and Boiler' - so popular during this period.
The image quality above is not great , if you would like to see it in full glory, you can download the full resolution zipped version at 864KB here.
Scanned and 'digitally re mastered' from an original catalogue loaned by Ronald H. Clark.
It was thought that no surviving example existed until an email and the attached photo's courtesey of David Eaton revealed one on display in the Taunton Museum, Somerset, England. Comparison of these with the engraving will show just how accurate the engravers were in their depiction of machinery.
Engraving of the Month
This superb HARE engraving is of a large cross compound balanced drop valve engine which was built by Whitmore and Binyon of Wickham Market, Suffolk in about 1897. Developing 250 HP a number of these engines, featuring Koenig valvegear and governor were built, primarily for driving flour mills, several being exported to Europe.
Complete books and catalogues containing numerous engravings, scanned and available in facsimile on CD ROM are now available from Phoenix Publications
You may store or print these picture for your own personal enjoyment, however you may not copy or re publish it in any form or format or use it for any commercial purpose whatsoever without first obtaining express written permission from the copyright holder.
© Copyright - Richard Adamek 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001