Reliable Horizontal Steam Pump

Size: 5" steam cylinder, 3" pumping cylinder with 6" stroke and 30" diameter flywheel, double acting.

This pump was purchased by the Chemical Engineering Company in 1916 for the new Llanbradach tar and coke works north of Caerphilly in the Rhymney Valley, S Wales. At an unknown date (early 1930's) the pump was transferred to Bargoed where tar distillation was centralised up until 1939, when the new tar works at Caerphilly came on stream.

After the war, this pump along with other equipment, was transferred to the Caerphilly site where it was installed initially on effluent disposal and finally on caustic soda duties, following the commissioning of the new naphthalene plant in 1962.

In 1982 the naphthalene plant closed and the pump fell into disuse. The cylinder was removed in 1985 and used on a similar pump following frost damage. The remains, including the base plate were recovered in 1991 and transported to Essex.

In 1996 the original cylinder was reunited with the pump enabling full restoration to be completed. This particular pump is fitted with a reversible eccentric.