Richard Newsham
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Richard Newsham (?—1743) was an English inventor. In 1721 he took out a patent on the first American fire engine pump. The engine had two single-acting pumps and an air vessel placed in a tank which formed the frame of the machine. The pumps were worked by two men at the long cross handles. At the front of the engine, protected by a sheet of horn and a door, were directions for keeping the machine in order.[1] The cistern could hold about 170 gallons of water pumping up to 100 gallons a minute.[2] New York City imported its first two fire engines from Newsham in 1731.[3] In 1737 Newsham made a manual fire pump for the Parish of Bray in Berkshire.
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Science and Society Picture Library - Search". Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ "On TV : A CARography : Fire Engines:Powerful Pumpers (303) : Fine Living". Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ "New York City Fire Museum - Education and Fire Safety". Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
