"jews harp engine", 1845

[Garson O'Toole]

Journal: Steamboat Bill (visible in a snippet) Journal of the
Steamship Historical Society of America says GB
Page: 176 (visible in a snippet)
Volume: 45 says GB
Issue: Range 185-188 says GB
Year: 1988 says GB

The odd spelling "engien" is visible in a snippet.

[Text extracted from more than one copy. Errors possible.]

The New York Herald, in the launch of
Stevens' iron steamboat, mentioned that it was to have "what
is known as the 'Jews Harp' engine." Taken together, these
mentions of 'harp' were the first solid indication the writer
had of which version of the steeple engien Stevens used.
The article in the Franklin Institute Journal described the
engine as follows: "Her engine is of the kind, known as the
steeple engine, improved by the addition of double connection
rods, with vibrating cross head, which passes through
the main cross head and works upon guides; by balance
valves fitted with expansion gear to cut off the steam at from
1/4 to 2/3 of the stroke of the piston, and also by an
improvement in the air pump bucket, which has a circular
double-opening valve.

[End of extracted text]

On Fri, Sep 21, 2012 at 4:53 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Re: "jews harp engine", 1845
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Google Books has a snippet it titles "Steamboat bill: Volumes 45-46",
> Steamship Historical Society of America - 1988, p 176.  I give the
> except, which terminates with a teaser:  "he New York Herald, in the
> launch of Stevens' iron steamboat, mentioned that it was to have
> "what is known as the 'Jews Harp' engine." Taken together, these
> mentions of 'harp' were the first solid indication the writer had of
> which version of ...".  The page goes on it seems to explain what it was.
>
> Presumably "Steamboat bill: journal of the Steamship Historical
> Society of America", 1958--2010, continuing and continued by other titles.
>
> Joel
>
> At 9/21/2012 04:24 PM, George Thompson wrote:
>>not in OED:
>>
>>A large iron steamboat was launched yesterday morning. . . .  ***  She is
>>to have her engines furnished by Mr. Secor, and they are to be what is
>>called the "Jews Harp" engine, a style not much known in this country,
>>though extensively used in England.  ***
>>New York Herald, October 31, 1845, p. 2, col. 5
>>
>>Nothing further to explain the term; presumably there was some resemblance
>>in some part to the musical instrument.
>>
>>GAT
>>
>>--
>>George A. Thompson
>>Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern
>>Univ. Pr., 1998, but nothing much since then.
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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