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Manufacturers Index - John Tremper

John Tremper
Buffalo, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Wilmington, DE, U.S.A.
Manufacturer Class: Steam and Gas Engines

History
Last Modified: Jan 11 2018 9:12PM by Jeff_Joslin
If you have information to add to this entry, please contact the Site Historian.

Beginning in 1849 or earlier, John Tremper built patent steam-engine governors, cut-off valves, and linkages. He remained in business, in various locations, until at least 1868. We cannot confirm that he was always manufacturing his wares; it appears that he licensed his patents to others and in his later years he may have lived off of licensing fees.

Based on various sources, we can place Tremper in Little Britain (Orange County), NY, in 1848-49; in Buffalo 1850-53; in Newburgh, NY in 1853-54; in Philadelphia 1855-56; Buffalo, again, in 1862; back to Philadelphia in 1865-66; Wilmington, DE in 1868-69; Portsmouth, Va., in 1870.

Information Sources

  • According to the Annual Report of the American Institute of the City of New York for the year 1852, John Tremper of Buffalo won a silver medal for his steam valve at the 1852 Fair of the American Institute.
  • 1853-05-12 Scientific American, classified ad (the same ad appeared until early 1854).
    Save your fuel—And have your Engine regulated at the same time. Tremper's Spiral Governor and Steam Economizer can now be furnished to any amount, and of the best materials and manufacture. Orders should be addressed to Newburgh, N. Y., instead of Buffalo, as heretofore, and will be promptly attended to. JOHN TREMPER.
  • 1854-02-25 Scientific American, classified ad.
    Great improvement in steam engines—Tremper's Patent Spherical Governor & Fuel Economiser. This Regulator and Economiser will do more work with a given amount of steam than other known mode without expensive cut-offs, expansion valves or other complicated fixtures, no change of motion to interfere with the most delicate work in any case, and being both a regulator and steam economiser at a nominal expense: warranted to supersede by far all others, or the money returned. JOHN TREMPER, Highland Iron Works, Newburgh, N. Y.
  • 1854-02-25 Scientific American, letter to the editor.
    Governors of Engines.
    Messrs. Editors.—In vol. 9, No. 18, of your paper, Mr. Mascher says:—"All governors that I ever saw applied to steam engines are not governors, properly speaking. I might call them ameliorators inasmuch as they govern the variations only partially." This defect I have spent a great deal of time and money to remedy. In examining the principles of action of the old fly ball governor, I found there was much more motion in the balls than in the hub that actuates the valve, in consequence of the balls depending on centrifugal force for their action, and the more speed, the less power is there to act on the throttle valve. To remedy this I found that the weights or balls should run parallel with the spindle, and move the valve an equal distance with the weights so as not to have any lost motion. I have attached four disks, (two will do) with flat surfaces to four arms cast solid in the hub. To the hub is attached a spiral, so that a spindle passes through both freely. The spindle has a pin and roller for the spiral to rest upon. When the spindle is put in motion, the weights or disks will not immediately partake of the same motion as the spindle, consequently the roller will be driven under the spiral and raise the disks, arms, and hub, together with the valve attachment equal heights—the atmosphere assisting to keep it up by retarding the weights or fans,—and will hold them there. But if the spindle slacks its motion in the least, the weights by their momentum will continue to move on and drive them down in proportion as the spindle is changed, and so on alternately, acting on the principle of a fly wheel loose on the crank shaft. Mr. M. says, "the action of the governor depends on two forces, centrifugal and gravity," and "the balls should move in a certain curve."—You will see that this spiral governor has no "centrifugal" force to actuate it, neither do the balls "move in a curve," the curve being in the spiral near the centre of action, this curve usually being semicycloid or any other curve to suit the work, and the governor may be driven at any speed and can be varied to suit any requirement. Mr. M. hopes these glaring defects will be obviated before the next World's Fair. The defects were removed before there was a World's Fair—in this county at least. I had it on exhibition at the Crystal Palace but found it difficult to attract the attention of the knowing ones. Not an editor to my knowledge noticed it as any thing novel or useful, neither the jury apparently see in it anything worthy of more than honorable mention, an article that I have plenty of, from those that have them in use, notwithstanding it has all the qualities you or any other person desire, being unlimited in its mode of construction and action.
    JOHN TREMPER
    [This governor was illustrated on page 244, vol. 8, Scientific American. Mr. T. must excuse the editors and reporters of our daily papers for their oversight: they cannot be expected to possess an accurate knowledge of what is new, good or bad in engineering apparatus. The same apology may be made for the awarding Juries at the Crystal Palace, if we may be permitted to take their decisions for a criterion to judge from.
  • 1855-02-24 Scientific American.
    Balanced Steam Valve—In our list of claims on another page is the name of John Tremper, of Philadelphia, who has obtained a patent for an improved balanced valve. The nature of the invention consists in a ring valve without an opening through its sides, which is employed in a casing in connection with a suitable arrangement of passages and a fixed cup having a passage or passages leading from one side to the other of it. The steam being admitted through the center of the ring valve, presses equally on all sides, and balances it perfectly. When the ring valve is down it rests upon the cup named, and closes the passages for steam around the sides, and when it is lifted up, the steam passes through the ring valve past the sides of the cup and into the cylinder. A guard ring is also employed above the valve ring, in order to keep the valve steady during the rush and intermission of the steam by the successive strokes of the engine. The ring valve is raised and lowered—to open and close the passages around the fixed cup, by means of a toggle joint, one arm of which is connected with the valve, and the other with a spindle passing transversely through the casing, and connected to the machinery that controls the valve. The toggle joint is so arranged that it is fully extended when the valve is closed, so that it limits its movement, and lets the valve drop steam tight into its seat. It also opens and closes the valve by such a nice motion as to prevent jamming, giving a slower motion at the closing, and a quicker one the further it is from its seat. This is a most beautiful and simple valve. Mr. Tremper—to our knowledge—has devoted his attention, for the past nine years, to improvements in steam engines, and has obtained a number of patents during that period. His very unique and ingenious governor for steam engines was illustrated on page 244 Vol. 8, Scientific American.
  • 1855-06-30 Scientific American, classified ad.
    Tremper's Patent Regulator and Fuel Economiser for Stationary or Marine Engines; will regulate better and with less fuel than any other known mode. Also will stop the engine, in case of accident.—The whole combined in one and warranted for governors or valves. Address JOHN TREMPER. No. 1 South Sixth st., Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 1856-01-26 Scientific American, classified ad.
    Tremper's Pneumatic Governor for Stationary, Marine, or Locomotive Engines.—This regulator does not allow the engine to change first, and then correct it, as others also, and will save the cost of fuel in a few months. Safety Attachment—this is a perfect safeguard, as it will stop the engine instantly in case of accident. Adjustable Pulleys—will guide belts true to any angle. Regulating Valves—this is the best valve in use for the flyball governor. Rights for sale. Address JOHN TREMPER No. 1 South Sixth street, Philadelphia.
  • 1856-11-29 Scientific American, in an article on the ongoing Fair of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia.
    John Tremper, of No. 1 Sixth street, Philadelphia, Pa., exhibits his patent Pneumatic Governor for marine, locomotive, and stationary steam engines. This invention was illustrated and described on page 244, Vol. 8, Scientific American, to which the reader is referred. It is very highly spoken of and is, undoubtedly, a good improvement. The inventor alleges that this governor is so sensitive that it never allows the engine to change its speed, no matter how unequal the work. Price $45 and upwards.
  • 1865-09-02 Scientific American.
    Tremper's Chronometer Governor and Drop Cut-off Combined is indisputably the best regulator and Fuel-economizer known. Applies to any engine in use. For Circular address JOHN TREMPER, No. 316 North Third street, Philadelphia, or E. Weston, Agent, Vulcan Foundery, Buffalo, N. Y.
  • The 1869-03-06 Scientific American has an illustrated article on a tricycle that had been developed by John Tremper of Wilmington, Delaware. It was one of three articles on that page on bicycles/velocipedes, as it was during a "bicycle craze" going on at that time.
  • According to a genealogy discussion, John Tremper was "in Little Britain, Orange Co NY, in 1849, Buffalo NY 1850-1854, Phila PA 1855-1856, Wilmington DE 1868, Portsmouth VA 1870."
  • Tremper's earliest patent was granted 1849-04-17 and latest was granted in 1868-02-11.