Poldice No. 2, Middle or Western Engine, 1780, 1781, 1783

Cornish Mine Engines (21 items).

1296. Poldice No. 2, Middle or Western. Apr., May 1780, Apr., Jun., Nov. 1781, Jan. 1783. 21 items.
Single-acting engine, with 63 inch cylinder, 9 foot stroke, chain connection.

General view of the engine, outside front view of the engine and outside end view of the boiler, inside front view of the engine and longitudinal and cross-sections of the boiler, ground plan of the engine and boiler - original and reverse drawings; sections and plan of the boiler - reverse drawing; eduction pipe - reverse drawing marked "…the proper drawing…"; martingales, glands, catch pins, piston rod cap etc.; eduction pipe; longitudinal and cross-sections of boiler seating ("setting") - original and reverse drawings; balance bob; gudgeon and plummer block; flanch for 17 inch plain pipes (with flanches for Wheal Virgin boiler steam pipes on the same sheet).
Also the following later items: clack door piece - partially coloured original and partially coloured reverse drawings marked "These drawings were made for Poldice but afterwards altered", Jan. 1783.

Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 11. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 300.

For Poldice Mine. This was the second engine for Poldice [see Portfolio 5/1286 for the first], and was referred to as the "Middle" or "Western" engine. According to the List of Engines made at Soho, it was stopped in Aug. 1795. It lay idle in 1796 before being moved to Pednandrea Mine, where it started in Oct. 1797 and where it was still at work in May 1798.
At some point 6 original drawings (the general view, outside and inside front views, ground plan and longitudinal and cross-sections of the boiler seating) were removed from this portfolio, for reference or display. They were not replaced, but placed in Box 2 of "Miscellaneous Drawings", where they were found in Feb. 2002.