Pumps are one of the oldest and most widely used technologies. They have been made in many forms and activated by many power sources. Steam was used to power pumps from around 1700 until well into the twentieth century.

This type of pump, among the last to be developed to run on steam, was efficient, smooth-running and took up little floor space, features that were useful in a range of industries. The flywheel smoothed out the action of pistons, valves and rams as they shifted large quantities of water.

The maker of the pump, Joseph Evans & Sons, was founded in 1810 and remained in existence until the mid-1960s. It was a significant manufacturer of pumps for much of that time, making both hand-powered and steam pumps in the early years and expanding to produce hundreds of different types of pumps in later years.

Debbie Rudder, Curator, 2005

Made by Joseph Evans & Sons in Wolverhampton, UK.

The use history of this pump is unknown. It was probably imported by either Morrison and Bearby, of Newcastle and Sydney, or Arthur Leplastrier & Co of Sydney.

It was in the collection owned by Mr Frank Baldwin of Castle Hill for many years and was sold to Mr David Mottram in 1986.

Steam pump, two-cylinder vertical ram with flywheel, metal, made by Joseph Evans & Sons, Wolverhampton, England, 1890-1930

Two steam cylinders, approximately 6 inch stroke and 6 inch bore, are supported on columns, between which sits the flywheel, which is connected to each piston rod via a crankshaft and Scotch yoke. The steam valves operate off the crankshaft. The two pumping rams sit on the base directly below the cylinders and outside the columns, which contain the pump valves in their bases. Water inlet and discharge ports are both on the same side of the pump, which was designed to be used in a range of configurations; the alternate ports are blanked off. There are traces of red and green paint on the flywheel.

Made: 1890 - 1930

A plate on one of the cylinders bears the words 'The ram steam pump, sole makers Jos Evans & Sons, Wolverhampton'.

The number 7 is cast into one of the cylinders.

Each of the columns has the company's logo, a lion rampant, cast into it in two places.

Catalogue number 71, from the 1986 sale of Frank Baldwin's collection, is painted on each cylinder in white.

2005/125/1

1890 - 1930

1700 mm

1200 mm

450 mm