Boiler Shell Machine

This machine was used to turn and trim boiler shell plates in the Sheepford Boiler Works, Coatbridge.

After being shaped in the plate bending rolls the curved boiler plate was clamped onto the rotating table of this machine and turned against a static cutting tool.

The machine is a vertical lathe – just imagine a typical engineering lathe stood on end, the principle is exactly the same.

This drawing of a Hudson Patent Water Tube Boiler is from the Thomas Hudson and Company Archive which is held at North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, Motherwell.

Click on the image to see it at a larger size.