HELP what is it ????

[ALAN STAMMERS 1Participant @alanstammers1]

Hi recently bought this mighty item off ebay as a project for the winter. or 2 or 3 or more…the whole thing weighs around a quarter of a ton and totally seized up.

however I have been working on it for 2 weeks now after removing the roof and some of the smaller parts to take in my shed, taking many pics so I will know how to put the bits back when cleaned and painted.

to get an idea of size, the height to the curved roof iron beams are 44" tall…I would love to see any pics of the original plant that this was a model as it is very old and looks worth seeing to , even if I am 84 ,it gives me some thing to keep the old brain ticking over. I must be potty

[ALAN STAMMERS 1Participant @alanstammers1]

any help on what this might be ???

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'm sure someone drew attention to this when it was on eBay a few months back, and someone else came up with a possible identification.

Neil

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

How about a tin ore processing plant? Reminds me a bit of Geevor mine in Cornwall, but it was 20 or more years ago I saw it…

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 04/12/2017 20:15:18:

I'm sure someone drew attention to this when it was on eBay a few months back, and someone else came up with a possible identification.

Neil

Yes , someone …it was me……………

 

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129582

Edited By Hacksaw on 04/12/2017 20:57:28

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Is that revolving drum under the main roof a ball mill? Looks vaguely familiar. You certainly have a project ahead of you. Hope you have your own sand blaster! But it will be a spectacular sight when working, specailly if you get a nice hit and miss engine or similar to drive it.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Diamond sifter?

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Dunno, but think it could be adapted to produce do-nuts

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Hi Alan. Good on you for rescuing such a lovely model.
It’s well out of my experience other than it reminds me of some of the plant seen on Gold diggers on tv where gravel was washed and sifted down things called trammels to let the heavy gold particles settle to the bottom and be collected in miners moss,a kind of fabric matting that trapped the tiny gold dust. I’m not sure if the same process works for other metals but I’m sure someone will tell you if I’m in the right area.
Good luck with the project and if you need any help with it just holler. Best regards Mick

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I would think it was for grading coal, and would be located near the pit head.

Ian S C

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Ian could be right. The only working coal mine I visited was at Bolsover. I suppose they riddled off the largest lumps, but most of the machine cut material was fairly well shattered before removal from the face!

What I remember was sets of vertical stacks of spoked wheels rotating in the horizontal plane, where the coal was dropped in at the top and any stones/larger lumps were deflected, if hitting the spokes, into side chutes.

We only ground the coal into dust, before burning, so likely just got what fell through. I can't remember whether it was primarily to remove denser stones, or what. It was a long time ago (about 35 years) and the coal face was, of course, the most memorable part of the trip – as well as actually riding on a conveyor belt at quite high speed!

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

I would definitely say nothing to do with coal production as I’ve lived round mines all my life and never seen the like of it. Washeries were used in reverse of this to float light weight coal dust out of the heavier spoil rock. Plus it looks an outdoor bit of plant to me for sunnier climes than the UK lol.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Tractor man on 05/12/2017 11:49:13:
I would definitely say nothing to do with coal production …

I agree not coal. But it is some sort of mineral processor. Possibly a screen for grading ore or sizing gravel from a quarry. You would have to see the innards to know what it is.

As mining equipment goes it's not very big. No sign of it using water. Although there's a tramway and many trucks feeding the machine, there doesn't seem to be any way of removing the output and waste. Perhaps that's what the crane like object is for? Possibly we're misled by the model being incomplete.

Lot's more pictures please!

Dave

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 05/12/2017 12:34:56:

 

there doesn't seem to be any way of removing the output and waste.

Dave

 

If it was a tin mine, the spoil probably got chucked straight off the cliffs into the sea!

 

Edited By David Standing 1 on 05/12/2017 12:53:02

[Tractor manParticipant @tractorman]

Look at the third image with the shute coming down to a shaking table. Behind it is a small bucket lift in a belt obviously for taking material back up to be reprocessed. I’m still in for sold mining as it would have cost a fortune to construct the model never mind the real thing. Mick

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Tractor man on 05/12/2017 13:14:37:
… it would have cost a fortune to construct the model never mind the real thing. Mick

Agree. I wonder if it was professionally made for a mining equipment company to show prospective customers what to expect. Shipbuilders often made beautiful ship models for the same purpose. These days expect Powerpoint at a sales pitch, or CGI if you're lucky. Boring!

[ALAN STAMMERS 1Participant @alanstammers1]

Thank you for all your replies and help.. still not sure of the plants function. I have posted some pics of the work done so far, and yes there is a 2" wide belt with 40 small buckets on it , this goes up to a cylinder with a perforated drum inside it before entering another graded revolving cylinder with 3 different sized holes,ranging from 3/8th to 5/8th inches round, there are 5 tipping waggons which are pulled up a 2" solid brass track by a cable,and when freed the track will switch to 2 directions thanks again alan

[Martin Johnson 1Participant @martinjohnson1]

Used to work for a company that made quarry equipment, although I was not closely involved with that side of the business. However, what you seem to have is:

A rod or ball mill right at the top, but I can't see just how it is fed.

A rotating screen (taking the output from the mill) depositing 3 sizes of sieved material into hoppers below. It looks like there is vehicular access under the hoppers, which would discharge by gravity into rail or road vehicles – for ultimate use as building / road stone.

Anything to big to go through the sieve is discharged to middle of picture 12.jpg to holding bins. This material would then be put through the rod mill again.

It seems the whole lot was probably for precious material extraction – tin (maybe silver / gold). 44.jpg shows a small crusher and manual feed table with a downcoming chute that doesn't seem to quite meet up – this chute probably coming from the fine end of the rotating sieve. This wee crusher would be producing the valuable ore. I would have expected some sort of washing table for separation of the ore, but maybe that is in the separate shed?

Reject from the wee crusher (which I see has already been restored) is taken by bucket lift back to the top of sieve area to go round again.

It is a bit tricky to see just what goes where from the photos, but it will be a beautiful model when done up. I would suggest some research on Cornish tin extraction or possibly Welsh silver / gold extraction would be fruitful.

Best of luck with your project.

Martin

[ALAN STAMMERS 1Participant @alanstammers1]

Another 5 photos added today. the pic of the lower half of the plant shows 2 walkways with 8 outlet chutes which open with a lever on each chute. that's on the upper walkway. if you look hard at the bottom walk you can make out long levers which I assume that these levers open various hoppers inside the unit to send material down the chutes.

as much as I would love to complete this project, and I am doing a bit every day, I think it may become to much for me ,due to the fact that I slashed my wrist with an electric hobby saw a while ago and have now been told that the hand will remain unusable and nothing can be done to heal it.so, with just the use of the little finger on that hand it is quite difficult to manage to take bits apart and put back together . so now looks as if I will have to sell all my live steam engines and take a forced early retirement after just 84 years. enjoying all the chat and information on this item, its a great site with lovely people so perhaps my wife will talk me round to rethinking about the plant thank you alan

[Martin Johnson 1Participant @martinjohnson1]

Alan,

Before you give up, do talk to your local Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapy team. And make sure you give it time. You might also ask to be referred to your local REMAP panel via your Occupational Therapist.

Sadly with anything NHS you have to shout loud to get the attention – but do please shout.

Best Wishes,

Martin

[ALAN STAMMERS 1Participant @alanstammers1]

Thank you Martin, but the specialist that I saw was the top man in Britain for hand injuries, and I have been told that Physiotherapy will only cause more pain. so have to accept that, fortunately it is my left hand that I damaged and I am right handed and at least ,I still have all my fingers even if 4 of them don't work, but thank you again for your concern and advice. alan

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hello Alan,

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.

Think twice before selling up everything. Even with six digits you can still learn new ways to do things, even at 84!

Only sell stuff if you need the money or space! Keep at least one live steamer and spend some tie think about what you might need to operate it single handed, perhaps a lever or hook will let you work things you thought were impossible. Your local REMAP may also be able to advise on gadgets and ideas to make life easier.

Neil

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Allan,

It has struck me that the more I look at your model the more I think its an actual model of a derelict mill of some sort.

Martin P

[ALAN STAMMERS 1Participant @alanstammers1]

I am thinking of moving the plant into my new shed which is lined with 2" thick polystyrene walls and roof, so will be warmer for me to work on it this winter, it will be a slow job but worth doing, going to make a start on the workshop/ hut next which is quite large and has a furnace with a chain coming down from the roof ,this works a large old air bellows made of metal and leather and sends air down to the furnace. also has a working blacksmiths vice and a old anvil . The large plant will have to be taken apart after many photos ,so I know how to put it all back together . I have never heard of REMAP but I will put it up on the internet.. thank you for all your encouragement ,and help alan

[Old SchoolParticipant @oldschool]

Alan where do you live, i am sure someone local will give you some help with the project. I live near Leicester.

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