Casting a Massive Cylinder- Fulton

[Lubliner]

I was reading the Washington City newspaper, Evening Star from October 9, 1854, and came across this 'notice' at the bottom left of page 3, column 1.

"The workingmen of the foundry at the Navy Yard, succeeded on Saturday in casting the immense cylinder for the steamer Fulton in fine style. It weighs twenty thousand pounds, is fourteen feet in length, and fifty-two feet in diameter. Two previous attempts to make the casting failed, it will be remembered. The job is considered 'excellently well-done.'"

These dimensions piqued my interest, having heard many members discuss particulars of the vessels of our civil war. I looked on-line for more information, and came up with War Eagle, built in Cincinnati in 1854, that saw action in 1862, taking a shot in one of her stacks [Union].
The Imperial, built about 1855, another wooden hull packet, arrived in New Orleans from St. Louis on July 16, 1863, marking the opening of the Mississippi River.
A third named Northern Belle, built in 1856 that transported troops in 1861 while under command of Captain Laughton.
[Information from steamboattimes.com].

I still remain unsatisfied, not knowing what boat this huge cylinder was meant for, and further I am skeptical of its immensity. The diameter of this is beyond all proportionate measures I can dream of. I decided to submit this for the interest of those members that collect information on specifics, and hoping they might point a boat out for reference. Thanks,
Lubliner.

 

[Mike Serpa]

It seems rather large. 14 feet in length. The diameter seems large. Maybe should be circumference instead of diameter? 14 feet by 16.5 feet?

 

[Lubliner]

It seems rather large. 14 feet in length. The diameter seems large. Maybe should be circumference instead of diameter? 14 feet by 16.5 feet?

I checked my source and it says 'diameter. The link is below.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1854-10-09/ed-1/seq-3/

Thanks,
Lubliner.

 

[Mike Serpa]

I checked my source and it says 'diameter. The link is below.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1854-10-09/ed-1/seq-3/

Thanks,
Lubliner.

I know. It just seems 52 feet in diameter makes an awfully large cylinder.

 

[Lubliner]

It seems rather large. 14 feet in length. The diameter seems large. Maybe should be circumference instead of diameter? 14 feet by 16.5 feet?

That measure does make more sense, but it weighs in at 10 tons. Is the cylinder a hollow for the piston, or what on this. Also the article says it is the Navy Yard, which I presume is Washington's, and though a vessel can be built elsewhere and moved, it says 'steamer Fulton' as though the name is U. S. S. Fulton, but I can find nothing on it.
Lubliner.

 

[Mike Serpa]

That measure does make more sense, but it weighs in at 10 tons. Is the cylinder a hollow for the piston, or what on this. Also the article says it is the Navy Yard, which I presume is Washington's, and though a vessel can be built elsewhere and moved, it says 'steamer Fulton' as though the name is U. S. S. Fulton, but I can find nothing on it.
Lubliner.

Yes, the piston goes inside the cylinder.

I've been searching and found this on wikipedia: The third Fulton rebuild commenced in 1850, was launched on 30 August 1851, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.[1] Fulton was essentially a harbor defense ship and was unsuitable for the cruising missions then emphasized by Navy policy. Accordingly, the New York Navy Yard rebuilt her in 1851 as a much more conventional warship. Fulton was recommissioned 25 January 1852 for duty in the Home Squadron, and sailed from New York 22 February for the West Indies. After the rebuild she was commonly referred to as Fulton III.[2]
During the next six years, aside from necessary repair periods in the yards at Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Virginia, and Boston, Massachusetts...

Maybe one of the guys on this forum will know.

 

[Carronade]

Fulton's beam was only 34' 8", so it seems unlikely she could accommodate a 52' diameter cylinder. I can only guess the original writer used the wrong word.

 

[georgew]

Yes, the piston goes inside the cylinder.

I've been searching and found this on wikipedia: The third Fulton rebuild commenced in 1850, was launched on 30 August 1851, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.[1] Fulton was essentially a harbor defense ship and was unsuitable for the cruising missions then emphasized by Navy policy. Accordingly, the New York Navy Yard rebuilt her in 1851 as a much more conventional warship. Fulton was recommissioned 25 January 1852 for duty in the Home Squadron, and sailed from New York 22 February for the West Indies. After the rebuild she was commonly referred to as Fulton III.[2]
During the next six years, aside from necessary repair periods in the yards at Washington, D.C., Norfolk, Virginia, and Boston, Massachusetts...

Maybe one of the guys on this forum will know.

You wonder if this is the Fulton under repair and reconstruction at Pensacola at the outbreak of the CW. You also wonder if your source had a typo and the diameter of the cylinder was 52 inches. I also question that any foundry of the period was capable of casting something 52 feet in diameter as a single piece. If someone has a reference it would be interesting to see if the Fulton of this time frame had a low-pressure engine which would be consistent with a large diameter cylinder and piston. Just a small update. In Canney's "The Old Steam Navy" pg 42 is a reference to Fulton II being rebuilt after being laid up for about 10 years in early 1852. This included: "...New machinery of the single-cylinder, inclined variety was installed, with a 50-inch bore and 10 foot 4-inch stroke. Two iron boilers replaced the original copper units..." She was relaunched, and in operation until running aground in 1859 near Pensacola. Florida troops captured her still under reconstruction, but were forced to burn her to prevent recapture by Union troops in May, 1862. She was a notorious coal hog, but had a speed of 11-13 knots when in good order and reportedly handled well.

 

[Carronade]

You also wonder if your source had a typo and the diameter of the cylinder was 52 inches.

You may have gotten it! 14 feet long and 4.33 feet in diameter seems credible for a steam engine piston.

 

[rebelatsea]

Here is USS Fulton, presumably after rebuild.

 

[rebelatsea]

I just found this, knew I had it somewhere. USS Fulton as constructed:

 

[Lubliner]

I just found this, knew I had it somewhere. USS Fulton as constructed:View attachment 313463

There is a significant difference between the original and the rebuild; the bow, stacks, masts, etc. The article I found was printed in October 1854, and said the casting was at the Navy Yard. I presumed Washington, being no other reference made. It also said two failures had proceeded it, which I take is time consuming and costly. The information I had named the vessel as the Fulton, but I am wondering if it may have been the class only. The three I found in the time frame, two were built in Cincinnati.
http://steamboattimes.com/steamboats_1811~61_p6.html This is the page for reference. Accept my thanks for helping.
Lubliner.

 

[rebelatsea]

There is a significant difference between the original and the rebuild; the bow, stacks, masts, etc. The article I found was printed in October 1854, and said the casting was at the Navy Yard. I presumed Washington, being no other reference made. It also said two failures had proceeded it, which I take is time consuming and costly. The information I had named the vessel as the Fulton, but I am wondering if it may have been the class only. The three I found in the time frame, two were built in Cincinnati.
http://steamboattimes.com/steamboats_1811~61_p6.html This is the page for reference. Accept my thanks for helping.
Lubliner.

Not sure I have helped now, USS Fulton's engine after rebuild was an inclined condensing, 50" by 4ft 10" with 2 boilers. her builder is give as Dunham, Brooklyn.

 

[Lubliner]

It is possible, maybe, she was commissioned under a different name when she reached launch date?
Even speculation helps! Thanks,
Lubliner.