Old Smethwick Canal Pumping Engine; 1779 Makers: Matthew Boulton & James Watt; The Smethwick Engine was installed near Birmingham and was brought into service in May 1779. Birmingham Science Museum; it is the oldest working steam engine in the world. Originally; it was one of two steam engines used to pump water back up to the 491 foot (150 m) summit level of the BCN Old Main Line (Birmingham Canal) canal at Smethwick; not far from the Soho Foundry where it was made.; Science and Industry; Manufacturers; Engine; Birmingham history