A late 18th/early 19th century iron and brass mechanical spi...

Estimate

£400 - £600

A late 18th/early 19th century iron and brass mechanical spit engine by William Mare, Plymouth Foundry: comprising an arrangement of spars and dive shafts, with convection and weight driven gearing, the two main spars with turned brass urn finials, with wall mounted spit hooks ebony handled spits with cut brass gears and a pair of iron doors with brass nameplate 'W Mare, Plymouth'. *Notes- John & William Mare operated the Plymouth Foundry at Russell Street ,Plymouth during the late 18th and early 19th century. Archive records show that they worked on the Morley Estate, the Flying Bridge Inn and submitted tenders for works on both Plymouth & Dartmoor railways and the Construction of Plymouth breakwater and lighthouse. The original location for this spit engine is unknown and the exact method of operation is hypothesized from the parts included in the lot.