An old engraving of two early ‘man engines’ used in mining in the 1800s. It is from a Victorian mechanical engineering book of the 1880s. Man engines are powered reciprocating ladders and stationary platforms designed to speed journeys to and from the mine. Power was often provided by steam engines. A pair of rods could be used, with one on its upstroke as the other descended. The miner stepped from one to the other, as they changed direction (left). Fixed platforms (sollars) were built onto the shaft walls, spaced to coincide with the top/bottom positions of the moving platforms (right).
An old engraving of two early ‘man engines’ used in mining in the 1800s. It is from a Victorian mechanical engineering book of the 1880s. A man engine is a mechanism of reciprocating ladders and stationary platforms installed in mines to assist the journeys to and from the working levels. It was invented in Germany in the 19th century and was a prominent feature of tin and copper mines in Cornwall until the beginning of the twentieth century. In the Cornish examples the power was provided by waterwheels or steam engines. The engines offered an up and down reciprocating motion with small foot platforms and grab handles attached to the rods at the same distance apart as the engine stroke. A pair of rods could be used, with one on its upstroke as the other descended. The miner stepped from one to the other, as they changed direction (shown left). Often fixed platforms (sollars) were built onto the shaft walls, spaced to coincide with the top and bottom positions of each of the moving platforms (shown right). Miners could ascend and descend at the same time – the pause at the changeover platform was made long enough (typically between two and eight seconds) for two men to change places. The inventor of the Cornish man engine was Michael Loam. It was still a lengthy process, at the Tresavean Mine near Redruth, where the first example was installed, the depth of the mine was 248 fathoms and the time taken to reach the bottom using the man engine was 24 minutes compared to an hour if using ladders.
Size: 2729px × 4724px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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