The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-26 00:00:00

STEAM CARRIAGES.

As the subject of steam-carriages is of great
public interest at the present moment, and as a
considerable degree pf misunderstanding prevails
respecting the origin and progress of this branch
of practical mechanics, we propose, previous to
describing Mr. Gurney's machine, to give a
slight chronological account of the inventions of
those projectors who have preceded him, or are
now engaged in attempting to accomplish this
important desideratum.
In 1772 the late Oliver Evans, of Philadel-
phia, while apprentice to a wheelwright, first
conceived the idea of propelling land carriages
without employing animal power. All the modes
that have since been tried, such as the wind,
treadles with ratchet wheels, cranks, &c. to be
worked by men, were considered too futile by
him to deserve a trial; by some subsequent ex-
periments with steam by a high pressure, he was
convinced that he had discovered a suitable
power ; upon which he renewed his studies with
Increased ardour, and soon declared that he
could make steam-wagons. This assertion
drew upon him the ridicule of his associates,
but, convinced of its feasibility himself, he main-
tained his position, and confirmed it by nume-
rous experiments.

In 1786 he petitioned the Legislature of Penn-
sylvannia for the exclusive right to use his im•
provements in the steam engine, in the construc-
tion of steam-mills and steam-waggons ; the Com-
mittee to whom the subject vas referred consi-
dered him insane, as regarded the latter proposi-
tion, and granted only the former. A similar
petition to the State of Maryland was, however,
successful in both points, owing to the good
sense of the members of the Committee, who
urged that the grant could injure no one ; that
it might produce something good. These rea-
sons obtained a grant to Oliver Evans, in May,
1787, for fourteen years. An interesting ac-
count of this ingenious man's improvements in
the steam-engine, and his experiments with
steam-waggons, is given in Galloway's History of
the Steam Engine, pp. 94-101.
The public mind, both in England and Ame-
rica, was not at that time adapted for the encourage-
ment of such an undertaking, and Mr. Evans's
pecuniary resources were inadequate to over-
come the obstacles which he met with in his
proceedings; although the public trials made in
Philadelphia of his steam waggons afforded de-
monstrative proofs to scientific man of their eco-
nomy, and of the practicabilit) of their construc-
tion ; but no capitalist was found disposed to
advance the requisite sum for carrying the pro-
position into full effect. Mr. Evans being at
the same time successful iii the application of
his Admirable high pressure steam engine (de-
scribed in vol. iv. p. 301, Register of Arta) to
propel boats, mills, &c. the steam-waggons were
laid aside for a more convenient and propitious
opportunity.
In 1802, Messrs. Treivthick and Vivian pro-
posed to adapt their high pressure engine to pro-
pel carriages on the common road ; the form of
their carriage resembled the common stage coach.
The cylinder and boiler in a horizontal 'position
were placed behind the carriage, and made to
vibrate on pivots, so as to follow the revolution
of the crank.—(See Register of Arts, vol. iv.
p. 441.)

In 1801 Messrs. Trevithick and Vivian's lo-
comotive engine was successfully applied to the
Merthyr Tydvil Rail road, South Wales.--(lbid.)
In 1811,. some improvements upon Trevi-
thick and Vivian's plans were introduced by Mr.
Blenkinsopp, of Middleton Colliery, near Leads
—(described Register of Arts, vol. iv. p. 443.)
In 1813, Mr. William Brunton, of Butterly
Iron Works, took out a patent for a locomotive
machine, in which were first introduced the pro-
pellers, in imitation of the action of horses' legs
and feet. This contrivance was materially im-
proved upon by Mr. David Gordon, and was
subsequently adopted by Mr. Gurney, with but
little variation.—(Described, Register of Arts,
vol. iv. p. 444.)
In 1814, Mr. Thomas. Tudal, of York, took
out patents for improved steam-carriages, which
we shall 'probably describe at an early oppor-
tunity.
In 1815, Messrs. Dodd and Stephenson in-
troduced their patent improvements, which re-
sembled Trevithick's, with respect to the contact
of surfaces to obtain propulsion.—(Described
vol. iv. Register of Arts, p. 445.)
In 1816, Messrs. Loch and Stevenson took
out patents for further improvements, which con-
sisted in a mode of supporting the weight of the
engine and machinery supportable on pistons,
moveable in vertical cylinders, filled with steam,
which acted as springs possessing the nicest elas-
ticity.—(lbid 446.)
In 1821, -Mr. Julius Griffith, of Brompton,
Middlesex, patented a new and very ingenious
arrangement for a locomotive carriage ; it was
the first in which the engines and machinery
were placed upon springs. We hope to, beable,
ere long, to furnish a description of this machine.
In 1823, Mr. Samuel Brown applied his gas
vacuum engine to the propulsion of a carriage,
which has made several public experiments.
In the same year, Mr. James, sen. patented
some new contrivances, applied to locomotive
carriages on railways.—(Described, Register of
Arts, No. 40.) _ _

In 1824, Mi.. W. H. James, of Birmingham,
and Thavies Inn, London, introduced some
valuable improvements, and subsequently, an ex-
cellent boiler and propelling machinery, all of
which are patented, and accurately descriliod in
Nos. 72 and 99, Register of Arts.
In the same year, Mr. David Gordon, of
Claremont-square, London, patented his new
Arrangements, which are fully described, with
engravings, in No. 45, Register of Arts.
In 1825, Messrs. Burstall and Hill, of South-
wark, produced their first locomotive carriage ;
described, with figures, in the new series of this
work, No. 2.

In the same year, Major M'Curdy applied
his steam apparatus to a carriage, fbr the common
road.

In 1826, Mr. Gurney commenced the appli-
cation of his patent steam generating apparatus
to locomotive purposes. • . -
In the same year, Messrs. Burstall and Hill
took out their second patent for flirther improve-
ments ; a carriage, according to which, is built,
and is undergoing alterations from time to time,
as suggested by;repeated experiments.
In the present year, Mr. James Neville, of
Shad Thames, has undertaken and patented a
peculiar construction of locomotive steam car-
riages.
, _

Also this year, Mr. Frederick Andrews, of
Stanford Rivers, Essex, a new patent invention
for a similar object.
There are now building,
or altering, in Lonaon
only, the following steamcarriages of different
constructions :—Gordon's, James's, Gurney's,
Burstall's, Brown's, Hancock's (or Stratford,

not mentioned before), also Beale's (Commercial-
road, not mentioned before), besidel several
others, respecting which our information mutt
at present remain private.
It is likewise to be observed, that the preced-
ing list of locomotive projectors falls far short of'
the whole of them ; they include only such as
occurred to our memory, or were of easy refer-
ence to us, by having already appeared in this
work. Ou,r readers may be assured of our giving
them the earliest intelligence of whatever experi..
ments may take place of importance among these
horseless charioteers, and that their vehicles shall
be all faithfully described and registered by us._
Register of Arts.