Item 1975_006_A_001 - Tangye Horizontal Steam Engine

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c1890s - 1900: Originally installed and used at the Hereford Sanitary Laundry where it provided the power for many different processes.

1974: Rescued from a local scrapyard and transferred to the museum. It is believed to date from late 19th century/1900. It is incomplete and therefore unable to run. Its governor and auto cut-off mechanism are available to view in the Tangye House next to this exhibit.

2016/2017: Re-painted over a period of about 2 years.

12" x 24" Horizontal single-cylinder, double acting Steam Engine.
Incomplete and unable to run - used as a static exhibit.

Bay O - Static Exhibit.

The Hereford Sanitary Laundry Co Ltd was formed in 1896 and operated on Ledbury Road in Hereford until the company was voluntarily wound up in 1975. This Tangye engine was operated in a green and white tiled enclosure and its belts and shafting were used to power the laundry's washers and rotary ironers. It is a typical medium sized steam engine used to drive works machinery through line shafting and flat belting. The large pulley, with gracefully curved spokes, on the fly wheel shaft would have been the power take-off point for the flat belting which drove the machines.

Horizontal steam engines were most commonly used to provide power in 19th Century mills and factories. One engine could drive many looms or machines by the use of overhead line shafts and flat belting.

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