The brass bands which secure the wooden lagging strips were installed. 5 bands were required to make sure that every piece of wood is held once the glue lets go. The bands are only 4.75mm wide. The bolts which apply the tension pass through small brass blocks which are silver soldered onto the ends of the strips. (thanks Ben De Gabriel of EJ Winter for that tip! And for the band material!)

And back to the Trevithick Dredger Engine….

Four of the plugged holes around the firebox opening, 10 more under the inspection hatch (hidden), and the inspection hatch. I will make the inspection hatch a little bit smaller. It will be decorative, permanently attached and unable to be opened. The dredger engine in the London Science Museum has the manufacturer’s name cast into the plate. I am contemplating just inserting Richard Trevithick’s name and the date the first high pressure engine was made (1806). There will need to be a separate area on the boiler wrapper the AMBSC identification.