Machine for raising water by steam
Date
1709
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p212
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 366mm
width (page): 232mm
width (page): 232mm
Subject
Content object
Description
A sketch of a machine for raising water by steam.
Image on smaller sheet of paper (99 x 84 mm) pasted onto the volume page, possibly taken from the original paper (Cl.P/6/61), which is missing the image.
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 18 May 1709, two letters of Thomas Savery FRS to the Reverend Dr John Harris FRS were read concerning 'a pretended Invention of Dr Papin FRS' and discussing Papin's improvements (see RBO/9/83) to a machine to raise water by fire. Savery had published his design of a water-raising engine in Philosophical Transactions vol. 21, no. 253 (1699), p. 228, and had patented one in 1698.
Savery describes a model sent to him by the Prince of Hesse-Kassel, explains why it did not work and how to make it work. The improvements, he claims, were then appropriated by Denis Papin, former curator of experiments of the Royal Society (1684-88), who worked as the operator for the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassell between 1695 and 1707.
Image on smaller sheet of paper (99 x 84 mm) pasted onto the volume page, possibly taken from the original paper (Cl.P/6/61), which is missing the image.
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 18 May 1709, two letters of Thomas Savery FRS to the Reverend Dr John Harris FRS were read concerning 'a pretended Invention of Dr Papin FRS' and discussing Papin's improvements (see RBO/9/83) to a machine to raise water by fire. Savery had published his design of a water-raising engine in Philosophical Transactions vol. 21, no. 253 (1699), p. 228, and had patented one in 1698.
Savery describes a model sent to him by the Prince of Hesse-Kassel, explains why it did not work and how to make it work. The improvements, he claims, were then appropriated by Denis Papin, former curator of experiments of the Royal Society (1684-88), who worked as the operator for the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassell between 1695 and 1707.
Transcription
… when the steam goes from the retort A through B into C & presses on the surface of the water at E the clack H ebing shut, the water rises through G into the pipe F. But this water so rising in F is cold so that as soon as it has run up through the steam but for a second or two of Time the coldness of it condenses the steam, & takes off its force until the water in the Pipe F between the surface of the water E & the top of the Vessel C becomes hot & and then you have a little more delivered, but the water succeeding F the next moment, you have fresh condensation & consequently a cessation of motion.
To avoid which inconveniences I shewed him that he must bring a Pipe to the outside of the Vessel C as K with the Clack I in it, & then you’ll have no stop till the Vessel C is discharged of its water; this Information the Gentleman [of Hesse Kassell] seemed to take very kindly & desired I would make him prices of several sizes of my Engine which I accordingly did & so took my leave: since which I have heard nothing from that part of the world about this matter until this pretension of an Improvement by Dr Papin, who being an Operator to the Prince of Hess, I suppose he had perusal of my book & all the Hints & helps his Master had from me & yet knows nothing of the matter.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
To avoid which inconveniences I shewed him that he must bring a Pipe to the outside of the Vessel C as K with the Clack I in it, & then you’ll have no stop till the Vessel C is discharged of its water; this Information the Gentleman [of Hesse Kassell] seemed to take very kindly & desired I would make him prices of several sizes of my Engine which I accordingly did & so took my leave: since which I have heard nothing from that part of the world about this matter until this pretension of an Improvement by Dr Papin, who being an Operator to the Prince of Hess, I suppose he had perusal of my book & all the Hints & helps his Master had from me & yet knows nothing of the matter.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
18 May 1709, 'Two letters of Mr Savery to Dr Harris concerning Dr Papin's new Inventions and proposals were read & order'd to be registered' (JBO/11/167).
Related fellows
John Harris (1935, British) , Natural philosopher
Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
Thomas Savery (1645 - 1715, British) , Inventor
Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
Thomas Savery (1645 - 1715, British) , Inventor
Associated place