Hydro-electric machine invented by William George Armstrong (1810-1900), later Baron Armstrong of Bamburgh and Cragside, in the 1840's. Originally training as a solicitor, Armstrong was fascinated by mechanics and demonstrated this particular machine at the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to an audience which included famous engineers such as Faraday and Whitworth. The invention utilised high pressure steam issuing through nozzles in the boiler.