Keeping the Coppers Cool - Cash in the Attic
Cash in the Attic
Only last week I was on the horns of a dilemma writing about restored horns on a whisky tasting venue in the capital and today there is another whisky venue that is featuring a rare four stroke Victorian engine that that once kept the capital’s coppers cool. It was in a building that once housed the courthouse and jail called the Edinburgh Police Chambers and which is now going to be a pod hotel. I suspect it would have amused the old lags who were incarcerated there to think their discomfort would be replaced by luxury..
Workers were converting and renovating the future hotel in Edinburgh when they found this enormously powerful engine moldering away in the attic of this Royal Mile building next to St Giles’ Cathedral. Not knowing what to do with it, who would, it they put out a photo as everyone seems to do these days by jings, and the answers that came back were stunning?
It was a super rare 1878 Crossley engine, which is an early four stroke machine, one of only three left in the world. There’s one in a museum in Detroit, Michigan and another in Denmark. Now it is to go on show at the underground whisky venue so all can marvel at its advanced features and recall a time when Scotland was the leading edge of innovation in the industrial world. Scottish inventions like the Watt steam engine changed the future of humankind. Mind you my little dabble on the internet showed that Crossley was based in Manchester, so it’s a nod to James Watt, but no more. In fact the Crossley engines were licensed from a German inventor called Otto! The engine it seems is in pristine condition, but at the moment there are no firm plans to have it working and it will be displayed for the benefit and pleasure of the whisky tasters. Although there is a documentary in the works to be made about its discovery and future use. As a one-time documentary maker myself I think it is a grand idea.
What is also a grand idea are the James Pirie offers that are now populating our fantastic website. Take a look at the new shape Edinburgh on the Rocks Tumblers by Royal Scot Crystal. They are on at half price and come in a classy presentation box with free delivery and free gift wrapping when you tick the box at check out. These have a handy heft in the hand, I like that alliteration.
And worth more than just a glance is the new shape Tartan design on the Rocks Tumblers from Royal Scot Crystal which are also on at half price. You’ll get these in a smart gift box and we offer free delivery plus free gift wrapping when you check the box at checkout. Nothing clunky about these designs.
