Ian
Do you have a reference (pref. contemporrary)?
Rick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian Forbes" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 10:55 AM
Subject: Re: pneumatic drilling - Wickwar
> 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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