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The Honorary Secretary made some remarks on "* The Moore Rental," and expressed an opinion that it ought to be purchased by the Town Council for the Free Public Library. Mr. Mayer said the old "salt celler" was of Dutch or Delft ware. The syllabub-mug he thought was of Liverpool make.

The following paper was then read :-

ON A VORTEX WHEEL NEAR KENDAL, WITH SUGGESTIONS ON WATER WHEELS, by G. Grazebrook, Esq., F.S.A.

After glancing at the advantages of applying water power to agricultural machinery, where practicable, and its superiority over steam for this purpose, with a comparison of first cost and current expenses between the vortex wheel, a steam engine, and their equal in horses,-the paper gave a description of a vortex wheel on Mr. Thomson's patent, recently erected at Holmescales farm, near Kendal, the property of W. E. Maude, Esq. An account of the trial was referred to in the Kendal Mercury of 29th October, 1856. This wheel-10 inches in diameter, with a 30 feet fall through a 9-inch supply pipe-attains 60 revolutions per minute, with about 8 horse power, and works all the machinery of the farm. A full account of the principle was given by Mr. Thomson to the British Association in 1852, and will be found in the report for that year.

In the accompanying illustrations, for the use of the plates for which we are indebted to the British Association :

A A [Plan and Section] is the water wheel, fixed on an upright shaft B. It is composed of a disc of thin iron, with vanes both on its upper and under sides (as shown to a larger scale in another part of the plate) carried in a certain distance towards the central boss:-this wheel occupies the centre of a strong cast iron case, C C, firmly bolted together by tie bolts P. The outer portion of this case is occupied by four guide-blades, G G, which direct the water tangentially on to the wheel. These blades fit close to the top and floor of the case, and can be moved by a spindle, K, with cranks, &c., so as to enlarge the exit and regulate the quantity of water admitted to the wheel. The water is introduced through entrances, F F, from the supply chamber, D D, [Section] (itself fed by E the supply pipe). In the Holmescales vortex this chamber is dispensed with, the supply being brought direct into the guide-blade chamber, which is made a little larger to admit of a rotatory motion of the water behind the roots of the guide-blades; also the blades are not moveable. The water having entered the wheel from between the guide-blades, passes through the vanes, and having expended its power escapes at the centre, which is left open both above and below,-where two annular pieces, L L, are fitted close to the orifice of the wheel. After passing out at this centre or vortex, the spent water runs away. M [Section] is the pivot on which the shaft works, and N a bridge to support the pivot; the whole case and its contents being sunk beneath the level of the tail race. The guide-blades are arranged to have such an orifice as only to allow the exit of half the supply, the remainder forming pressure in the supply pipe; and these proportions are found so correct that the full power is obtained, and the spent water is discharged in a state of rest. Mr. Thomson's later erections have been somewhat simplified, especially when applied to farm purposes. The advantages of the vortex wheel are:1. Eighty per cent. of the power due to the water is secured-the greatest yet attained by any principle of water power. 2. Great regularity of speed, and economy of water 3. It is not affected by floods or ice.

Mr. Grazebrook then glanced at the history of the invention, and noted several erected by Mr. Thomson, especially one not yet completed near Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, intended to work up to 150 horse-power, with a 14 feet fall.

The suggestions on water wheels pointed out several ways in which the power of our old-fashioned undershot breast and overshot wheels might be eked out at trifling expense. In our village mills, the same faulty construction has been followed for centuries. Metal, which offers many advantages, will no doubt replace wood in the construction of new ones; but new principles should be applied as well.

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