25th October 1786

Transcription of letter                                                               Kennetpans 25th Oct 1786 Gentm I wrote you the 19th & 23rd Currt Thursday Mr Meickle Mill wright has been with me and I have only time to request you suspend before I again write...

9th November 1786

Transcription of letter Kennetpans by Alloa N D 9 Nov 1786 Gentm I am favd with yours of 31 Oct. It is well you stopped proceeding with my Mill, before we had more fully determined upon the power. Mr Meickle Millwright is cleart of opinion my two pair largest stones...

25th September 1786

Transcription of letter Kennetpans 25th Sept 1786 Mess. Bolton & Watt Gentm Your favour of 12th Curr.t came duly to my hand to which I would write you in course but was from home for some days. I observe you have a Steam Engine nearly finnished for grinding of...

Introduction to letters

Letters from John Stein to Boulton & Watt ordering the steam engine. These letters have been transcribed as accurately as possible.  I have put words or sections that I am not sure about in brackets. If you can work out what they do actually say, please let me...

Steam Engine

Scotland’s first Boulton & Watt steam engine was ordered by John Stein in 1786 and located at his Kennetpans Distillery (See letters ordering this steam engine). In 1763, a Scottish scientific instrument maker, James Watt, was given the job of repairing a model of...