Newcomen engine, 1752.

UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 22: Newcomen engine, 1752. Newcomen engine, 1752. Model. Thomas Newcomen (1663-1729) designed an atmospheric or 'steam' engine in 1712. It was safer and more effective than the earlier Savery engine and was widely used to drain water out of mines. This is a model of one built at Griff colliery in 1720. Water was heated in the boiler and the resulting steam was let into the cylinder, pushing up the piston. The steam was then condensed, bringing down the piston. The piston rocked the beam which worked the pump. This model is associated with Dr S Demainbray (1710-82), a science lecturer. (Photo by Science & Society Picture Library/SSPL/Getty Images)