Today we are looking at a photo of a traction engine which was, undoubtedly, based in Market Lavington.
The engine belonged to The Market Lavington Brick and Pottery Works when it was owned by Holloway Brothers.
We have no accurate date and do not know the location.
We do know that the steersman is Charlie Sheppard.
We do not know the other two men in the picture.
The engine is a Box Patent engine. William Box, who designed this engine was born in Devizes in about 1844. When his father, William Box senior took the Lavington brickworks, the younger William became a Market Lavington resident. Like many in the family he was an engineer and he was concerned at the number of bricks broken because of the rough haulage by traction engines. Part of his aim, in devizing a different transmission system for traction engines was to reduce such breakages. By the time the patent was issued, William had his own brickworks at Uffington.
As we see, the patent was granted in 1876. Here’s the summary of the ideas.
We imagine the idea was not a great success. Very few Box patent engines were built.
Tags: brick, Easterton, Market Lavington, traction engine, trade, transport
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