Can anyone provide information on the engine shown in the photograph?
The image was taken from a small booklet produced by a local land agent advertising the benefits of moving to new properties being built in Laindon, Essex. The engine was probably used to drive a pump supplying water to the newly-created Manor House Estate.
It would be useful to know the year of production as this will help to date the installation of the system.
Many thanks
Colin Humphrey (Editing Team, Laindon and District Community Archive)
(Editors Note: As can be read in the recent comment below, this not a pump but an engine, probably oil driven as it was owned by the Laindon Water and Gas Company. The post has been moved from ‘Pumps and Accumulators’ to the ‘Engines’ section and the text modified accordingly).
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The ‘thing’ in the picture is not a pump but a old stationary engine. This is what would have been used to power the pump instead of an electric motor.
Ed: Harry, many thanks for drawing our attention to this. You are quite correct and this must have been overlooked back in 2013 when the post was raised. This will be moved to the Machinery ‘Engines’ section where it belongs and a suitable note added. John B
Thanks for adding this page Colin. Hopefully, someone will be able to help with your enquiry. As a starting point, it would be helpful to know what year the booklet in which the photograph appeared was published. Cheers, Ollie
Hi Ollie, The only clue that we have is from a report from the Essex County Medical Officer in the booklet, it begins: ‘In his report for the past year relating to……’. The heading is dated May 1906, so we have to assume that it was published in 1907. However, we know from a document held at the Essex Records Office, that the plan to install a water tower and pump was still in progress in November 1895, this means that the pump would have been installed from between 1896 and 1907. I hope that this helps. Regards Colin
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