Horizontal Duplex Steam Pump

Size: 5" steam cylinders, 4" pumping cylinders with 5" stroke.
Series: 670 "A" General Service version, iron fitted.

This pump was purchased new in 1954 for the Tar Plant extension being built by Simon Carves at Caerphilly, effectively doubling the tar distillation capacity. It was installed as the crash tank pump for the new No. 3 Wilton tar unit. Its duty being to circulate and pump away the pitch drainings from the coils within each furnace following either a planned or emergency shutdown.

Its use was therefore rather infrequent, but when required to pump it often failed to pick up suction, especially when hot. It was then decided to replace the pump with a Lee Howl Tipton No.28695, 6x5x12. The duplex was removed in the early 1980's and placed in storage never to be used again.

The pump was acquired from Caerphilly in 1991; it has been partially stripped ready for restoration