F. Leyland, the junior partner of Messrs. Bibby's firm, and
by the intelligent and practical experience of Captain Birch, the
overlooker, and Captain George Wakeham, the Commodore of the
company. Unsuccessful attempts had been made many years before
to condense the steam from the engines by passing it into
variously formed chambers, tubes, &c., to be there condensed by
surfaces kept cold by the circulation of sea-water round them, so
as to preserve the pure water and return it to the boilers free
of salt. In this way, "salting up" was avoided, and a
considerable saving of fuel and expenses in repairs was effected.
Mr. Spencer had patented an improvement on Hall's method of
surface condensation, by introducing indiarubber rings at each
end of the tubes. This had been tried as an experiment on shore,
and we advised that it should be adopted in one of Messrs.
Bibby's smallest steamers, the Frankfort. The results were found
perfectly satisfactory. Some 20 per cent. of fuel was saved;
and, after the patent right had been bought, the method was
adopted in all the vessels of the company.
When these new ships were first seen at Liverpool, the "old
salts" held up their hands. They were too long! they were too
sharp! they would break their backs! They might, indeed, get out
of the Mersey, but they would never get back! The ships,
however, sailed; and they made rapid and prosperous voyages to
and from the Mediterranean.
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