Model of a trunk engine, Petrus van der Loo, 1855

Model of a trunk engine, Petrus van der Loo, 1855

wood, brass and iron, h 84.5cm × w 82.5cm × d 37cm Catalogue entry

The trunk engine, invented by the British engineer John Penn, greatly improved steam propulsion for ships. Penn’s use of a ‘trunk’, or cylindrical case, housing a connecting rod, instead of a beam or side lever, made the engine more compact and allowed it to be installed horizontally across a vessel’s keel. A number of Dutch naval ships were fitted with the trunk engine. This model represents a 150 h.p. engine.

On display in room 0.13

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