INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Series One: The Boulton & Watt Archive and the Matthew Boulton Papers from the Birmingham Central Library

Part 1: Lunar Society Correspondence

NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE MICROFILM PROJECT

In her Editorial Preface Professor Jennifer Tann has set out details of the nature and scope of the Boulton and Watt Archive and Matthew Boulton Papers at Birmingham Central Library, as well as giving notes on the relevant additions made to these core materials. How is the microfilm project seeking to cover this diverse abundance of primary source material?

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
SERIES ONE: THE BOULTON & WATT ARCHIVE AND MATTHEW BOULTON PAPERS
FROM BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL LIBRARY
Five parts are now available (as of June 1993):
Part 1: Lunar Society Correspondence
Part 2: Muirhead I - notebooks and Papers of James Watt and Family
Part 3: Engineering Drawings Watt Engines of the Sun and Planet Type, c.1775-1802
Part 4: Matthew Boulton Correspondence and Papers (Subject Material: Albion Mill - Steam Engines)
Part 5: Engineering Drawings Watt Engines of the Crank Type; Canal Engines; Dock and Harbour Engines; Engines for Water Works; Mint Engines; Small Side-Lever, Blowing and Pumping Engines, c.1775-1800.

Some further details on Parts 2 to 5 are outlined below.

Part 2: Muirhead I - Notebooks and Papers of James Watt and Family
James Watt is famous for his pioneering work on steam power and his steam engine revolutionised the supply of power and his steam engine revolutionised the supply of power to the new mils, collieries, factories and ironworks of the Industrial Revolution. His notebooks and papers provide a rich source for:

- Watt's developing interest in steam power including details of his experiments
- Correspondence with Joseph Priestley, Sir Joseph Banks and Joseph Black concerning experiments with air, conversion of water to air and the composition of water
- His Canal and River Surveys
- Early negotiations with Roebuck and Boulton 1772-1774
- The patent process
- Engineering works at Greenock Harbour, Port Glasgow, Ayr Harbour, Hamilton Bridge and at London Waterworks
- Watt's engines employed throughout England, Scotland and Wales
- Watt's improvements upon his basic engine and work on new types of engine

There is also important material concerning his son James Watt Jr.. This comprises travels on business in Europe, substantial documentation on the Soho Factory and Manufactory, visits to various mines and engines in the north of England (Manchester, Bradford, Newcastle, Durham, 1795), visits to the collieries and ironworks of South Wales, a notebook containing a geographical list of engines and owners in 1808, experiments on steam boat engines and data on engine materials, wages for workmen and pricing policy. James Watt Jr. was very active in the Boulton and Watt businesses by the mid 1790s. The firm of Boulton, Watt & Sons was established in 1794. James Watt moved to Birmingham in 1774 when Matthew Boulton took over Roebuck's share in the patent of Watt's invention. The experimental work on the engine was a great success and by 1800 Boulton and Watt had supplied hundreds of their engines to mines, collieries, mills, ironworks and factories throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The patent was extended for 25 years from 1775 and a partnership between Boulton and Watt was concluded for a similar term.
These notebooks and papers feature very full entries and include some excellent diagrams, plans and drawings. This microfilm edition enables the scholar to examine closely the impact of Watt's invention and see clearly the close ties between business, industry and scientific inventions.

Part 3: Engineering Drawings
Watt Engines of the Sun and Planet Type, c1775-1802
Over 3500 drawings are brought together in this section devoted to original manuscript plans and diagraMs..
Watt's original engine was a single-acting device for producing a reciprocating stroke. It had an efficiency four times that of the atmospheric engine and was used extensively for pumping water at reservoirs, by brine works, breweries, distilleries, and in the metal mines of Cornwall. To begin with it played relatively small part in the coal industry. In the iron industry these early engines were used to raise water to turn the great wheels which operated the bellows, forge hammers, and rolling mills. Even at this first stage of development it had important effects on output.

However, Watt was extremely keen to make improvements on his initial invention. His mind had long been busy with the idea of converting the to and fro action into a rotary movement, capable of turning machinery and this was made possible by a number of devices, including the 'sun-and-planet', a patent for which was taken out in 1781. In the following year came the double-acting, rotative engine, in 1784 the parallel motion engine, and in 1788, a device known as the 'governor', which gave the greater regularity and smoothness of working essential in a prime mover for the more delicate and intricate of industrial processes.

The introduction of the rotative engine was a momentous event. By 1800 Boulton and Watt had built and put into operation over 500 engines, a large majority being of the 'sun and planet type'.

The engineering drawings reproduced here enable a thorough examination of developments between 1775 and 1800 and reflect the dominance of the 'Sun and Planet Type' of engine in this period. The material is made available under geographical headings to facilitate regional comparisons, analysis of distribution of engine types and method of use and employment.

Part 4: Mathew Boulton Correspondence and Papers
(Subject material: Albion Mill - Steam Engines)
This includes subject material for the period c.1760-1840 on:

- Albion Mill
- Birmingham Commercial Committee and the
- Chamber of Manufacturers
- Boulton and Watt's Industrial companies and business empire, including Early Accounts and Agreements
- Canals
- Copper
- Contest with Cornish Miners
- Iron Trade
- Soho House
- The Soho Foundry and Manufactory
- Steam Engines, different types, designs, new improvements and methods of use
- Steam Engines: Agents employed between 1819 and 1839

In contrast with the previous parts this elucidates the business history of the Boulton enterprises, showing how ideas and inventions were implemented. It shows how Boulton used his capital to build up a diverse portfolio of companies.

Bisset's Survey of Birmingham in 1800 lists the diverse range of Matthew Boulton's businesses as follows:

- Matthew Boulton, 1759-1809, Mercantile trade in Birmingham
- Boulton & Fothergill, 1762-1781, Toys, ormolu, plated ware
- Matthew Boulton & Plate Co. Plated & silver ware, ?1765-1809
- Boulton & Watt, 1775-1800, Steam engines
- Boulton & Eginton, 1778-1780, Copying pictures
- James Watt & Co, 1780-1794, Letter-copying machines
- Matthew Boulton & Button Co. Buttons, 1782-1809
- Boulton & Scale, 1782-1796, Buttons, buckles
- Matthew Boulton, 1788-1809, Medals, rolled metals
- Matthew Boulton, 1795-1809, Mint for government, copper coin
- Boulton, Watt & Sons, 1795-1800, Iron foundry and steam engines
- Boulton & Smith, ?1796-1809, Buckles, latchets
- Boulton, Watt & Co, 1800-1809, Iron foundry and steam, T engines

The subject material reproduced in Part 4 gives a very full insight into these operations. Boulton's involvement with other leading industrialists - particularly in the Chamber of Manufacturers, with its plan to set up a federation of British industries to exert pressure on government and intervene on matters of international trade, chaired by Josiah Wedgwood.

It gives significant detail on the day to day workings of the Soho Manufactory and the Soho Foundry, (built in 1795) including data on workmen, wages, machinery and new developments.

It also gives much information on how Boulton's and Watt's sons took over the business empire, restructured and reshaped it to meet the new challenges of the 1820s and 1830s.

It provides much documentation on the copper and iron trades. Furthermore, it demonstrates how Boulton achieved a pivotal position amongst entrepreneurs through a shrewd use of capital, patronage and advice, coupled with the success of the Boulton and Watt Engine business.

The strength of the Boulton and Watt archive is that it brings together a rich mixture of papers concerning the development of science and technology, business records and the personal archive of one of Britain's greatest entrepreneurs. This part emphasises the entrepreneurial dexterity of Matthew Boulton through the complete range of his subject files.

Part 5: Engineering Drawings - Watt Engines of the Crank Type; Canal Engines; Dock and Harbour Engines; Engines for Water Works; Mint Engines; Small Side-Lever, Blowing and Pumping Engines, c.1775-1800
Part 3 covered drawings of the Sun and Planet Type. Part 5 addresses the wide range of other engines of different types conceived, planned and in the most part, erected during the period of Boulton's partnership with Watt, 1775-1800. It features over 3300 drawings.

This project provides an opportunity for a fresh look at the substance and impact of the Industrial Revolution and suggests the potential of much fruitful interdisciplinary work between economic historians, mechanical engineers and historians of science.

Each part is accompanied by a paperback guide with full contents of reels, background information such as data on prominent individuals, detailed listings, chronological and other relevant bibliographic details. This is an essential microform collection for all libraries interested in Business and Economic History.

Forthcoming Parts
A further 10 parts have been scheduled. These next sections of the microfilm project will cover Muirhead II, III and IV (comprising further Notebooks and Papers of James Watt & Family), further Engineering Drawings for post-1800, two more sections of Matthew Boulton Correspondence, the Order Books, Notebooks and Diaries, and a section of Boulton and Watt Correspondence.

This still then leaves the important Letter Books, Papers on the Cornish Mint, the Silver Patent Books, Cash Books & Accounts, Estate Papers and various Business and Family Papers.

There are also plans to cover collections on the Industrial Revolution from other libraries and archives. Series Two: The Samuel Oldknow Papers and Joseph Wedgwood Correspondence from the John Rylands University Library of Manchester will be the first of these new series.

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