Smethwick Engine

Smethwick Engine
The engine in steam at Birmingham's Thinktank museum
Origins
TypeWatt beam engine
DesignerJames Watt
MakerBoulton and Watt
DateMay 1779 (1779-05)
Country of originEngland
Former operatorBirmingham Canal Navigations
PurposePumping water
Measurements
Cylinders1
Bore32 inches (81 cm)
Stroke8 feet (244 cm)
Preservation
CollectionBirmingham Museums Trust
LocationThinktank
WorkingYes

The Smethwick Engine is a Watt steam engine made by Boulton and Watt, which was installed near Birmingham, England, and was brought into service in May 1779. Now at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, it is the oldest working steam engine[1][2] and the oldest working engine in the world.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Oldest steam engine". guinnessworldrecords.com. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Highlights - Thinktank - Birmingham Museums". birminghammuseums.org.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  3. ^ Holland, Julian (1 May 2012). Amazing & Extraordinary Facts Steam Age. David & Charles. pp. 18–. ISBN 9781446356197. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Promoting engineering in the Midlands". 27 January 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2015.