J Samuel White Marine Engine (No. 1239)
A two cylinder, inverted, vertical, compound marine engine built by J Samuel White in 1906.
It was originally installed in a 56ft steam pinnace attached to the 16,500 ton battleship HMS Agamemnon.
In 1924 the engine was installed into the Thames River Steamer called 'The Grand Duchess', which was owned by Salter Bros. of Oxford.
The engine is currently on loan from The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
Code No. EQS0110
The engine arrived at Markham Grange on 9th January 2002 in a fairly good state.
Work had started on it by Wednesday 23 January 2002. It was completely dismantled, examined and assessed for wear etc.
All bearings were adjusted, as necessary, to take up wear. New brass bushes made and fitted to piston rod glands and new pipe work fitted from the oil wick boxes to the main bearings and big ends etc.
Some adjustments were made to the valve port openings to overcome starting problems.
After rebuilding, it was successfully steamed at the museum on Wednesday 26 February 2004.
Technical details
| Type of Engine | Two cylinder, inverted vertical, compound engine |
|---|---|
| Builder & Year | John Samuel White & Co, Engineers and Shipbuilders, Cowes, Isle of White 1906 |
| Horse Power | 237 IHP at 185 psi steam pressure |
| Cylinder Sizes | High Pressure (HP) is 8 ins diameter Low Pressure (LP) is 16 ins diameter |
| Stroke | 8 ins. |
| Valves | The HP cylinder is controlled by a sliding piston valve and the LP by a conventional slide valve. |
| Other Information | There are two eccentrics per valve coupled to, hand operated, The air pump is situated on the portside and is driven by beams from the HP cross-head. |
Details of Battleship HMS Agamemnon
Battleship HMS Agamemnon
Built by William Bearmore & Co. Ltd, Dalmuir,
Clydebank, Glasgow: Yard No. 484
Laid down 15th May 1905
Launched 23rd June 1906
Completed October 1908
16,500 ton displacement
435ft long
79.5ft beam
Withdrawn from service in 1920 and sold for scrap in 1927