Gambles Hill in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Francis Turbine

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. Francis Turbine Marker

Inscription. This Francis Type Turbine was used on the Tredegar site in the early twentieth century and is very similar to one of the five turbines located near the building to your left. It was built by the S. Morgan Smith Company of York, Pennsylvania. By turning the wheel attached to the gears, the cylinder gate (the part with the fin-like openings) moves in and out, controlling the amount of water passing into the turbine, thus controlling the power. The water pushes the buckets of the runner, turning the power shaft.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 37° 32.123′ N, 77° 26.761′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Gambles Hill. Marker can be reached from Tredegar Street, 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located outside the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Adapting Power (here, next to this marker); Early Industrial Patterns (here, next to this marker); The Bulldozer Press (a few steps from this marker); Historic Tredegar (a few steps from this marker); President Lincoln Visits Richmond

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Tredegar in 1951 (within shouting distance of this marker); Raceways (within shouting distance of this marker); Toledo 1000-ton Press (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. On the left is an illustration of turbine components carrying the caption, "Several other turbines of this type were used by the Tredegar Iron works, including another S. Morgan Smith turbine in the raceway next to the Pattern Building."

On the lower right is a photograph of a turbine with the caption, "Shown here are a Runner (right) and a Cylinder Gate (left) from a typical Francis–type turbine designed by John McCormick."

Francis Turbine image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

2. Francis Turbine

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 8, 2009

3. Francis Turbine

Turbine casing image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 8, 2009

4. Turbine casing

Close up of the Francis Turbine image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, March 21, 2010

5. Close up of the Francis Turbine

Francis Turbine Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

6. Francis Turbine Display

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,372 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 12, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 5. submitted on August 20, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on November 12, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.