mappakernwick
16 years ago
I admit to being confused on this one. My research seems to have thrown up three claimed inventors of the Cornish double beat valve: Hornblower, Wolf or West.
Any one know the definitive answer to this one?

mappakernwick
16 years ago
Sorry everyone....must try harder nest time!
I've corrected my profile so with luck my double beat question is now legible even to those without a 2 fathom wide screen :-)
spitfire
16 years ago
A little tricky this one, I would with fingers crossed say it was Hornblower. You are right to mention the other two but who was first seems to be lost in the mists of time. I think West would have been too late and maybe Woolf but they all made variations
spitfire
carnkie
16 years ago
I hesitate to enter this discussion but just an observation. The Dictionary of National Biography 1901 (if it can be believed) gives Jonathan Carter Hornblower as the inventor. It describes his invention and the 1781 patent of his engine in full with a neat diagram. But as you know he fell foul of the Watt patent and the engine wasn't developed until later by Woolf.
This could perhaps explain why an academic (I know) article in the Oxford Journal has Woolf as the inventor.
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
spitfire
16 years ago
Perhaps you would care to enlighten us? Which engine was developed by Woolf and on what date?
spitfire
carnkie
16 years ago
As I understand it Hornblower invented the double beat valve, the first reciprocating compound engine that he patented in 1781. Boulton and Watt challenged his invention, claiming infringement of patent. They won and Hornblower lost the opportunity to develop it until it was done by Woolf in 1804.
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
spitfire
16 years ago
So, Woolf, according to you, put up his first engine in 1804. That seems strange as at that time he was from 1797-1806 engineer to Meux's Brewery in London
Hornblower however put up his engine on Tincroft mine in 1791 and until 1794 put up another eight!
spitfire
carnkie
16 years ago
And as I understand it Edward Bull installed about ten 'pirate' engines in the 90s as well but by 1799 the Birmingham duo were successful with their litigation. Mind it was only a year before the patent ran out.
You could clarify something for me. Jabez Carter Hornblower also displeased Boulton and Watt by installing an engine in the 90s. Was it just the one?
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
spitfire
16 years ago
Jabez started to build engines in London with a man called Maberley in 1790-99
Now this has gone OT far enough.
spitfire
mappakernwick
16 years ago
Thanks everyone...I think I may have a problem in the use of the term "double beat valve". From above I see that Hornblower and Woolf were involved in the steam valve development but West valve's were in the pitwork.

The sketch of the life of William West (pub 1880) states that he patended, in conjuction with Mr. Harvey, a double beat valve on the 12th June 1839. Way after the valve was developed by Woolf and Hornblower. West's valve was developed to solve a problem with the pump at the East London waterworks. Perhaps Mr West tansfered the concepts of the double beat steam valves into a pump. Or perhaps we have authors in the past misunderstanding the term.

Any ideas??
spitfire
16 years ago
You are quite right double beat valves were applied to pitwork as well as the steam engine
spitfire
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