Corliss Engine

[2tenths]

Hi Corliss builders.

I am coming to the end of the Southworth Corliss build (single cylinder) inspite of bad dimensions, short castings etc.

Question..........There should be a spring in the steam valve dashpot, from the dimensions of the pistons I reckon it should be 5'16" dia but how long and of what gauge? I have asked Peter and he has no idea. Any bright ideas folks?

TIA

Regards

Tony

[Myford Matt]

Hi Tony

Welcome to MECH – I can't help you with your question, but would appreciate seeing some pictures of your Corliss.

Cheers

Matt

[gugger]

Hello Tony,

During the building stage I did put in springs that I thought would do the job. However, I think once testing of the engine starts, I will have to find out what spring dimensions will do the job. The size of the springs will depend a lot on the friction in the control mechanism.

Finding and maybe making the right springs will be a tedious job.

Regards

Walter

[paul]

Oct 15, 2008 17:27:48 GMT Myford Matt said:

Welcome to MECH – I can't help you with your question, but would appreciate seeing some pictures of your Corliss.

I'll second all of that!

[2tenths]

Oct 15, 2008 17:27:48 GMT Myford Matt said:

Hi Tony

Welcome to MECH – I can't help you with your question, but would appreciate seeing some pictures of your Corliss.

Cheers

Matt

Thanks for the welcome. I have pictures, all sorted. Just need to open a Photobucket account.

Since I joined I have been on holiday and am finding it difficult to get back into the swing of things.

Watch this space.

Regards

Tony

[2tenths]

Oct 15, 2008 19:10:11 GMT gugger said:

Hello Tony,

During the building stage I did put in springs that I thought would do the job. However, I think once testing of the engine starts, I will have to find out what spring dimensions will do the job. The size of the springs will depend a lot on the friction in the control mechanism.

Finding and maybe making the right springs will be a tedious job.

Regards

Walter

Hi Walter

I was very slowly coming to that conclusion myself.

Regards

Tony

[Ramon Wilson]

Hi I'm new to the forum and very new to posting.
I have a long but recently dormant interest in the 'Throp' engine and so was instantly drawn to this thread.

I have spent some time trying to work out how to get photo's on to this tonight so I hope this will work as I am sure those who have posted before will be interested in these three pics

The first was taken at the Model Engineer Exhibition - Ally Pally I believe - quite a number of years ago. I wasn't able to speak to the builder but the person running the stand (North London ME if memory serves correct) categorically assured me it was 'the only one in existance'.
I came home and wrote to Fleet Services twice but no reply. Fast track several years and during a conversation with a friend he told me he had met a model engineer who had moved up from London. It turned out it was the same person who had built the engine I had seen at the exhibition. I was kindly offered a visit to meet Cyril (Rylett) when the second two photos were taken and the engine run on air - a stirring site I must say.
He told me he had had great difficulties in obtaining the castings from Fleet but had persevered and again stated that he believed it to be the only one in existance.
Sadly this was to be my only visit as not long after this Cyril passed on and the model I believe was left to Mike Crisp (ME editor) who had been a personal friend of Cyril's. I wish I had taken more photo's but these are all I have.
Several years later in course of conversation with Peter Southworth regarding anoher matter it transpired that he had purchased the patterns for this engine from Arnold Throp's estate and that's where my interest took an immediate leap forward. Regretably for a long time now, too long in fact, the castings have sat under the bench the only part machined being

the flywheel, Unfortunately, redundancy and subsequent ill health led to a rapidly deteriorating interest but I can say that your postings have blown a little breeze on the embers.
I do hope this is of interest
Yours - Ramon(Tug)

[Ramon Wilson]

Oh well I did try!
It's late though- in fact very late and no it hasn't proved successful.
Can someone please help me get these pictures posted?
Ramon

[Tel]

Have a look at this Ramon. than if you still need help, give us a shout.

[Ramon Wilson]

G'day to you Tel. Thanks for your response but unfortunately whatever it is you want me to look at hasn't appeared!

However what I did yesterday was set up a web account on Picasa - I simply could not get a response with photobucket which I had also tried. I have just found today an email asking me to activate my Google account so this may be the reason the pictures did not load. Here goes again! (I assume I am correct in cutting and pasting the web address of each image between the image brackets?)

First pic at Ally Pally

And these are the second two
Hope this works as I have a bit more to add later
Regards - Ramon

[Ramon Wilson]

Oh the joys of the modern world - I'm going back to my workshop it's so much less frustrating in there!!! (Besides I think know what I'm doing in there - well at least I hope so!)
Regards for now - I will keep trying though - Ramon

[2tenths]

Nov 10, 2008 0:16:39 GMT Ramon Wilson said:

Hi I'm new to the forum and very new to posting.
I have a long but recently dormant interest in the 'Throp' engine and so was instantly drawn to this thread.

I have spent some time trying to work out how to get photo's on to this tonight so I hope this will work as I am sure those who have posted before will be interested in these three pics

The first was taken at the Model Engineer Exhibition - Ally Pally I believe - quite a number of years ago. I wasn't able to speak to the builder but the person running the stand (North London ME if memory serves correct) categorically assured me it was 'the only one in existance'.
I came home and wrote to Fleet Services twice but no reply. Fast track several years and during a conversation with a friend he told me he had met a model engineer who had moved up from London. It turned out it was the same person who had built the engine I had seen at the exhibition. I was kindly offered a visit to meet Cyril (Rylett) when the second two photos were taken and the engine run on air - a stirring site I must say.
He told me he had had great difficulties in obtaining the castings from Fleet but had persevered and again stated that he believed it to be the only one in existance.
Sadly this was to be my only visit as not long after this Cyril passed on and the model I believe was left to Mike Crisp (ME editor) who had been a personal friend of Cyril's. I wish I had taken more photo's but these are all I have.
Several years later in course of conversation with Peter Southworth regarding anoher matter it transpired that he had purchased the patterns for this engine from Arnold Throp's estate and that's where my interest took an immediate leap forward. Regretably for a long time now, too long in fact, the castings have sat under the bench the only part machined being

the flywheel, Unfortunately, redundancy and subsequent ill health led to a rapidly deteriorating interest but I can say that your postings have blown a little breeze on the embers.
I do hope this is of interest
Yours - Ramon(Tug)

WOW
A very interesting post. I won't engage rant mode, but I was given the impression by (not giving names away) that the builder of this engine was Peter Southworth IIRC the model won a gold medal?

I don't doubt you for one moment as you have answered a lot of questions I and another builder I am in contact with over the past few months, why Peter has little real or practical knowledge of this engine and all the bad/wrong dimensions on the drawings and why he hasn't a clue about the dashpot spring.

Anyway, hope you get back to making chips and thanks for the heads up on Photobucket, I haven't got round to opening an account yet.

Keep us posted.

Tony

[Ramon Wilson]

Hi 2 tenths

I’m sure I know what you are referring to, but first a bit of background.
My interest in this engine began when Arnold Throp described it In Model Engineer. This article, entitled ‘A Model Condensing Corliss Engine’ was featured in two parts in the 20th August and 17th September 1982 issues. I have just been up the loft and recovered my old binders with all things ‘Stationary’ and here it is. I believe I’m right I saying that in the same or following issues there was an advert for the castings available in various layouts. Indeed I did send off for details but for whatever reason did not follow it up.
The next short instalment of this tale began as previously mentioned, at the ME Ex. but I’m not sure which year probably ‘85/’86. As I said I wrote off again but never received a reply
It wasn’t until I met Cyril some years later (about’95/6) that he told me the difficulties he had in obtaining the castings from the company and that they finally ceased trading which probably explains the lack of response.
Some time passed and well after Cyril had died I visited the Model Engineer Show held at Donnington. On one of the stands was this truly magnificent tandem compound engine. I could not stop looking at it - the machining and finish was really outstanding. It was some time before I noticed a (very) small builders plate with the name Southworth on it. The engine was called Agnes.
He next day I rang Peter Southworth to enquire if he was the builder and indeed he was. We had along conversation where he told me many of the details of the build and in fact I did later write a piece on it for the Norwich SME newsletter. This is the engine that I believe you are referring to. It was a scale model of the engine Agnes that was being renovated at Holmfirth. Peter later wrote a small book about the engine. I know I have a copy somewhere and have just looked but it’s not where it should be!
It was during this conversation that the subject of Arnold Throp’s engine came up. Peter asked was I aware of it and I related the previous tale. It was then that he ‘dropped the bombshell’ and casually mentioned that he had the patterns which he had bought at Arnold’s estate sale but so far had done nothing with them. He kindly sent me a set of drawings to peruse and make my mind up which version and wearing those rose coloured goggles I keep for such occasions it had to be nothing less than the twin tandem as built by Cyril. I believe that at this time no castings had been made from these patterns (by Peter) and if memory serves me correct he had to make a couple of patterns for the bed plates which were missing before he could fulfil my order.

I managed to machine the flywheel before said redundancy and health problems took over but that’s as far as it got. I haven’t spoken to Peter for many a year - far too embarrassed I guess. But who knows maybe this forum is just the catalyst I need.

This post is now far too long, there’s more to add on Corliss engines and I’m still trying to get some pics posted –I’m working on it but whilst I can problem solve in the workshop when it comes to the same on computers my poor old brain goes into rapid overload
Hope this has shed some light
Regards for now - Ramon

PS Just tried again (unsuccessfully) to post a pic can someone please help me overcome this stumbling block

[alanstepney]

Ramon, as you appear to be stuck, send the photos to me and I will post them for you.

alan "at" alanstepney.info

Alan

[Ramon Wilson]

Alan - Thank you but I think I may have partially cracked this nut this time.
This link will show the three pics of Cyril's engine - hopefully.
picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/j4Kf0C8pfSlQc4Rtsmvl0w?authkey=PwB7N5reoko
I would still like some help in getting pics into a posting though. I have pasted this link between image brackets but it still does not show in the preview - any idea where I'm going wrong?

Ramon

Yes- yes - yesssss!!!

[jgb7573]

Thanks for posting those pictures. They're great!

[baggo]

Hi Ramon,

It doesn't seem to work if you use the URL at the top of the album page. If you right click on the photo and then click 'view image' this brings up a new page with just the photo. If you then copy the URL at the top of this page and put that between the brackets, it works
I think this is because the images are stored in a separate file on another part of the server.






Hope that helps,

John

[2tenths]

Hi Ramon

Thanks for the background, so Peter's model must be of the Agnes engine now at Markham Grange in Brodsworth (Doncaster) Well worth a visit.

I have known Peter from when he was in partenership with Ivan Law from MES...........this was in the days of the MK1 DW miller.

Oh I nearly forgot..........thanks for the piccies.

Tony

[Ramon Wilson]

Well how about that!
Unfortunately however despite your advice and my momentary euphoria that it can be done try as I might John I still can't get this to work. That it does is obviously not in doubt - big thanks for posting the pics but when I try which I've spent some time on tonight and check it on preview nothing is there. I have done as you suggested but when I right click the menu I get it does not show 'view image'.

I have tried both my link as posted above and opening my Picasa web page direct. A click on the thumbnail then right click the photo for the menu. I have tried both the URL at the top of the page and the one marked 'Link' on the right hand side - neither works so it does'nt seem to leave me much else unless I'm really missing something. Could this be my computer - I am on windows XP or something I have not got quite right on Picasa set up maybe, though I have checked this out. Also been through their help pages which seem to confirm I'm on the right track at the Picasa end. Am I right in placing the link directly between these two sets of brackets[/img]?

Corliss lovers please be patient with my endeavours I do have one or two other things to share.

Thanks for your help so far John but do you or anyone else have any further thoughts on this

Regards Ramon

[baggo]

Hi Ramon,

Sorry, I think the 'view image' is a feature of 'FireFox' which is the browser I use. With FireFox you can also use 'copy image location'
I'm having a look at using Internet Explorer but can't find an easy way to get at the image URL yet. Picasa is not very user friendly when you need to link to an individual photo rather than a complete album.

John