Rock drills were indeed tried by the Beaumonts (WB Lead) in the North
Pennines c.1863 - 5. However the rig was experimental and operated only
in the Blackett Level which was the major Beaumont driveage of the time in
Allendale. The machine was designed by Westmacott, one of W.G.
Armstrong's engineers at the Elswick Works in Newcastle. It was not a
great success, being heavy and unwieldy and (if my memory serves me right)
there was a problem with the springs which kept breaking. The miners
didn't like it and the experiment was abandoned.
Ian
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