I forwarded the posting below from Paul Smith to Ken Brown, Cornwall, on the
assumption that it might be of interest to him, and that he might be able to
add further information. He forwarded the following note a few days later,
and asked that it be posted on to the list; my apologies for the delay in so
doing.
Regards,
John Morris
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Reason the 90 built for S.Wales in 1873 donated its beam to the Agar engine
was that after lying unerected for 8 years or so an engine was suddenly
required for Tresavean to fit into an empty house originally built for a 12
ft stroke 80. Consequently its beam built for 10 ft stroke was not suitable
and a new extra long beam was cast. The original beam was left on Harvey's
hands until they had the order for the Agar 90, 10 ft stroke. The Tresavean
engine subsequently went to Grenville United and South Crofty, in both
places the house was made for the extra long beam. In 1950 this beam, too,
broke, wrecking the engine few bits of which I have. Agar & Tresavean never
under same management surely ?
Best wishes,
Kenneth
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Paul Smith
Sent: 15 January 2005 16:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Shaft Accident at Wheal Agar
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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