Vanoord
  • Vanoord
  • 54.4% (Neutral)
  • Newbie Topic Starter
17 years ago
Forgive my stupidity, but being a dweller of north Wales where we (mostly) just remove lumps of slate from the ground, what on earth is this? I can't help but think it looks musical...

🔗Blue-Hills-Tin-Mine-User-Album-Image-004[linkphoto]Blue-Hills-Tin-Mine-User-Album-Image-004[/linkphoto][/link]
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
ben88800
17 years ago
These stamps where used to crush the ore (here it was for tin) down to a managable size for the mill to seperate out what was of value
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ben88800
17 years ago
The musical bit is attacted to a water wheel which turns the cam which then raises the stamps they then drop back down on to the ore which is mixed with water so as the ore is crushed it is washed out of the stamps
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Wyn
  • Wyn
  • 50.2% (Neutral)
  • Newbie
17 years ago
A restored set at Geevor, that shows off the waterwheel.

[img]http://www.aditnow.co.uk/photo/Personal-Album-118-Image-004/[/img]
carnkie
17 years ago
The King Edward Mine museum is well worth a visit. Here can be seen the magnificent Californian Stamps (erected in 1901) which are the only full size set in existence in the U.K. and probably in Europe. They are complete and in original condition. Much of the machinery in the mill is demonstrated working.
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
ben88800
17 years ago
King edwars is a great place to visit and very interesting to see the mill operateing must have been a noise place when it was all going
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carnkie
17 years ago
Just to expand slightly on my last post. Stamps were originally powered by water-wheel but later by powerful steam engines. First mention of water-powered stamps in Cornwall was in Wendron in 1493. Californian and cushion stamps were introduced at the end of the 19th century and powered by electricity. Californian stamps had a cam which turned the head at each descent enabling the steal heads to last longer. Cushion stamps were faster than the traditional stamps and an air-cushion prevented them from wear and damage as they stamped the ore.
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
royfellows
17 years ago
The picture is of Colin Wills tin works at Blue Hills, near St Agnes. Well worth the visit.
My avatar is a poor likeness.
carnkie
17 years ago
Thanks for that Roy. I must admit I haven't been there but must make a point.

Malcolm
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
ben88800
17 years ago
Its well worth the trip carnkie its nice to see the plant still used to get the tin. the people there are very helpful as well and where very good at answereing our questions
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