Wheal Virgin Old Wheal Maid (Wheal Maid East), 1780

Cornish Mine Engines (13 items).

1317. Wheal Virgin Old Wheal Maid (Wheal Maid East). Nov. 1780. 13 items.
Single-acting engine, with 58 inch cylinder, 9 foot stroke, chain connection.

General section of the engine (also used for Wheal Virgin Elvan), outside front view of the engine and part of round boiler, inside front view of the engine and cross-section of the boiler, ground plan of the engine and boiler; plan and section of engine house for 56 or 58 inch engines (these 2 drawings were probably also used for the Wheal Virgin Eastern 56 inch engine ordered at the same time).
The following drawings are all marked as applying to "Wheal Virgin 58 inch cylinder": sections and plans of round and rectangular boilers; horizontal section of condenser communicating box - coloured drawing; section and plan of condenser communicating box - partially coloured reverse drawing; kingpost glands and catch pin etc.; martingales; condenser and plug tree chain links; piston rod cap. The drawings were probably also used for the Wheal Virgin Elvan engine which was ordered at the same time. Only the drawing of the piston rod cap is dated.

Original Portfolio or 'Book' No. 15. Catalogue of Old Engines p. 302.

For Consolidated Mines. Wheal Virgin and Wheal Maid were part of Consolidated Mines, which was formed in 1782, when this engine was set to work. The engine was referred to as either the "Old Wheal Maid" or "Wheal Maid East" engine. According to the List of Engines made at Soho, the engine was stopped in Apr. 1788, but worked again between Jan. and Sep. 1793. It was then moved to Wheal Virgin where it began work in Sep. 1797 and where it was still at work in May 1798.