A little more on the shaft accident at Agar,
The winding at that time was from old Western engine shaft, the whim engine
there was a 24 inch cylinder 7ft stroke beam engine. This engine also at one
time drove a compressor for rock drills as well as its winding duties. The
pumping plant on this shaft comprised a 70 inch beam engine started in 1874 and
was second hand from East Carn Brea. The 90 inch engine was on new shaft,
which was renamed Robartes after the mineral lord, the engine took the same
name and wasn't started until 1888, again the engine was not new, being bought
second hand from East Wheal Rose. Old engine shaft seems to have been the
only one equiped for man riding at that time of the accident.
Another interesting accident happened on the 16th February 1889, when the
beam to the 90 broke, wrecking the engine. A new beam and cylinder had to be
cast for the engine and among other parts cost of £1,181. As the engine was only
started in July 1888, I should imagine a few choice words were used to
describe this piece of machinery. This engine had already cost £1,343 to purchase,
but was quite new having cost £5,000 to build. The weakness however was with
the beam, evidently the beam supplied was not the one cast new with the
engine, but one from another, older 90 inch, being installed at Tresavean. The
new beam originally supplied with the Robartes engine went to Tresavean.
Evidently both Tresavean and East Wheal Rose were owned by the same adventurers,
did they know something of the history of the faulty beam and have it swapped
to their older cheaper engine for Tresavean. Certainly makes you think!!!!
Regards,
Paul
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