This spinning device is a centrifugal governor which is used to regulate the speed of a steam engine. The governor rotates with the engine via a connection with the crankshaft. The faster the engine rotates, the more the spherical weights on the governor move away from the centre shaft, just like being on a playground roundabout. As the weights are thrown outwards, a linkage connected to the steam valve will alter to slow down the engine. If the engine runs too slowly, the spherical weights move