Richard Reynolds & Co., Horsehay Forge and Ketley, 1783, 1784

Sun and Planet Engines. (28 items).

238. Richard Reynolds & Co., Horsehay Forge and Ketley. Apr., Jul. 1783, Apr., May, Sep., Dec. 1784. 28 items.
Three 12½ horse power sun & planet engines, with 26 inch cylinders, 6 foot strokes, chain connections. Three-bar motion added to one of the engines Dec. 1784 [?].

3 drawings of initial plans for engine, all marked "not followed": plan and section (on the same sheet) of sun & planet engine with 36 inch cylinder, chain connection, dated Apr. 1783; section of sun & planet engine with 24 inch cylinder, chain connection, marked "2nd sketch of Mr. Reynolds' rotative engine", dated Apr. 1784 - the cylinder diameter has been altered to 24 inches; plan showing 2 engines alongside each other, marked "2nd sketch of Mr. Reynolds' rotative engine".
Drawings of engine as built, including: sections and plans of the engine and boiler, showing connection to tilt hammer; "inside front view of Horsehay forge engines" showing two engines alongside each other, dated May 1784; plan and sections of engine and boiler houses and boiler seating.
Also several drawings of components and parts including: cylinder and piston, flywheel and shaft, rotative wheels, teeth of rotative wheels, support for fly wheel, links, condenser cross bar, piston rod cap and cross bar, adjusting screw, stuffing box glands, martingales, nozzles etc.; injection gear; working gear - front and side views of upper and lower working gear, full size drawings of working gear components, drawings showing positions of the hands, arms etc. of the Y shafts and levers of the regulator spindles.
Also ground plan of Ketley stamping forge, showing engine and round boiler and hammer; clack door piece and barrel of pump - reverse drawing marked "Ketley 3rd engine, Jul. 1783".
Also drawing of three-bar motion marked "Perpendicular motion for Horsehays, Dec. 1784." The majority of the drawings are reverse copies.

Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 51. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 40.

For Richard Reynolds & Co. Horsehay Forge and Ketley Iron Works, Shropshire. Reynolds & Co. had three 26 inch forge engines erected between 1784 and 1786. The geographical section of the List calls them "Ketley 3, 4 and 5" and does not mention Horsehay, but most of the drawings are marked "Horsehay Forge". It is unclear whether one of the engines actually had a three-bar motion applied to it, but Reynolds & Co. were writing to Boulton & Watt about working engines at Ketley without chains in late 1784. The Reynolds' interest in Horsehay Forge was passed to the Coalbrookdale Co. in Apr. 1797.

See also: Incoming Correspondence.