Steam!!!!?

[ffutures]

I picked up something in a charity shop that is either a steam engine or a compressed air engine - not entirely sure which. It has a biggish cylinder (over 1" wide), slide valve, inlets and outlets that look to be designed for 3/16" or similar tubing. It turns by hand but I think it needs to be cleaned and lubricated at least, not sure what else needs doing. My guess is it's intended for compressed air and was originally used to run a sewing machine or something, but I could be completely wrong. No manufacturer's logo or anything.

Anyway, I paid 15 quid for it - I have some friends who are very into steam and have first refusal if they're interested, if not I'll either keep it as an ornament or sell it on eBay, if I can find out more about it.














Any guesses?

Comments

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Definitely steam according to my father the engineer. If there's no makers mark, he thinks its something somebody has made themselves. Probably for a model launch or similiar.

[nojay.livejournal.com]

It's a laboratory demonstration model, designed to show the principles of a simple steam engine plus the valvegear for timing. The fitment into the valve chest on the top is a standard compressed air feed connector. If you lube it up it will probably work if it is fed from a lab compressor (2-4 bar).

The extended shat on one side is probably meant to take a string with a weight on the end, hanging off the side of a table to show the work done while the engine is running.

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

(Friendsfriends cruising) That looks like a tabletop demonstrator, possibly from a classroom. I've seen very similar things in museums.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That sounds very plausible - thanks!

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Maybe, but I'm sort of leaning towards nojay's opinion.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

So have I, but the base looks a bit amateurish so I'm thinking it's either replacing some other base, or the engine was originally used for some other purpose and has been mounted for display.