Reliable Rotative Steam Pump

4" steam cylinder, 2" pumping cylinder with 4" stroke and 24" diameter flywheel-double acting.

This pump was acquired in August 2004 from a scrap merchant who was supplying skips to the former Industrial & Maritime Museum in Cardiff Docks following their removal of surplus items for scrapping. The pump was found to be in a very poor and damaged condition with many parts missing, probably as the result of poor supervision during previous efforts at dismantling. The pumping cylinder flange was broken and a large section missing, both eccentric blocks rims were also damaged and the reversing mechanism broken beyond repair. Finally one web of the crankshaft had been bent.

This presented a huge challenge for restoration. The crankshaft web was heated to dull red in a large lathe and carefully straightened. Many new parts have been fabricated, including all piston and valve rods and a new extended cylinder cover to incorporate a facility to fix a long bolt from the end of the pumping cylinder cover to the chassis. Replacing the broken cylinder flange without the broken part would have been very difficult. A new reversing eccentric was located and fitted, along with new eccentric straps.