Chris,
I know you asked about coal cutting in longwall coal mining, but John Wilkinson (the famous ironfounder) is reputed to have built the first coal cutting machine in 1780 and used it in a coal mine in Broseley, Shropshire.
Known as the 'iron man' it was used to cut down the side of the coal after it had been undercut. Apparently it worked really well in thick seams, but the miners saw it as a threat to their jobs and refused to set roof supports for it, claiming that "if the iron men can do one job they can also do the other".
I've not been able to locate a drawing of the device yet, or find out how it was operated - presumably by hand with some form of gearing.
Kelvin Lake
Publications and Newsletter Officer
Shropshire Caving & Mining Club
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-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christopher Jones
Sent: 29 March 2010 20:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Coal cutting by machinery
Dear All,
I wondered if I might call upon the collective wisdom of the group for any references/sources/examples they may have of early use of coal-cutting machinery in longwall coal mining in the UK and elsewhere.
Chris Jones
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