Wheal Kitty Mystery object, 1987 (photo)

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Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Does anyone have any good ideas what this object might have been used for?

Photograph:

🔗Kitty-Tin-Mine-User-Album-Image-002[linkphoto]Kitty-Tin-Mine-User-Album-Image-002[/linkphoto][/link]

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JR
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17 years ago

Given that the remaining ribs look like they supported a cylinder containing a lining of some kind it suggests a flu, or something to cope with great heat. Beyond that my faint grip on reality fails me at this time of night.

:zzz:

sleep is a caffeine deficiency.

Wormster
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17 years ago

"jr48" wrote:
Given that the remaining ribs look like they supported a cylinder containing a lining of some kind it suggests a flu, or something to cope with great heat. Beyond that my faint grip on reality fails me at this time of night.

:zzz:

S'wot I thought....

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

Peter Burgess
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Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Another view of it. Was there a steel chimney at Wheal Kitty? Calciner? Boilers? The left end in this view seems to be the remains of a dished end, or tapering collar? Would a flue reduce in section like that?

🔗Kitty-Tin-Mine-User-Album-Image-001[linkphoto]Kitty-Tin-Mine-User-Album-Image-001[/linkphoto][/link]

markc
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Newbie

17 years ago

It appears to be lined with something, which would be unusual for a flue. Could it be some sort of kiln, similar to that used to produce cement?

Dolcoathguy
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17 years ago

Althought front is missing, could it be a lancashire boiler? Commonly used in many Cornish mines.

Is it safe to come out of the bunker yet?

Peter Burgess
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Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Isn't the essence of a boiler that the water fills the vessel and the fire etc passes through the 'tubes'? In which case why would the vessel need a refractory lining if it basically contains hot water? Or is this a long thin fire/smoke box and the section that contained the 'tubes' is missing?

Dolcoathguy
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17 years ago

We (Myself and another mining enthusiast) have had a long look at the images - The use of a brick lined interior would make it unlikely to be a boiler as you say, although the dimensions are similar. Checked the archeology report for Wheal Kitty and although no specific information to this item, it did state that the site has been used by other industries (ie Iron foundry)during the last 100 years as well as for Mining.
Unless someone else comes up with some good evidence,might be worth trying to contact the experts at the trevithick society such as Ken Brown (engine house expert).
I'll keep trying to see what I can find on this - because it is interesting - however I am only an enthusiast so hopefully some engine house experts on this site may have some better ideas.

Is it safe to come out of the bunker yet?

Peter Burgess
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Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

I made measured sketches of objects and structures I came across in my wanderings, and I think I have some of this item. I recall at the time (as I was a member of the TS) asking if my notes were of any use and whether there was a repository for such stuff. Not getting a firm answer to this, I just kept them for myself. I think I did send some stuff to Ken, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I can now upload them here if I can find them again to scan them. I know I spent a long time measuring up that odd engine house near The Hurlers (see other topic), and I reckon I did send that one to Ken.

Peter Burgess
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Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

#10

At the time I wondered if it was part of a small rotary calciner. Were there such things?

JR
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17 years ago

#11

Dalcoathguy's comment that Wheal Kitty's site has been reused by the iron industry over the last 100 years set me to reconsider a thought I rejected last night. I'm pretty certain the remains represent all that remains of a reverbratory furnace flu.
My best shot anyway.

John 🙂

sleep is a caffeine deficiency.

Barney
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Newbie

17 years ago

#12

There is something exactly the same lying around at the Black country museum, hidden away. That example, so i was told was to do with the iron industry. I cannot remember what the old boy at the place told me it was.
Sorry for my hopeless input 😞

AR
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Newbie

17 years ago

#13

Part of a cupola furnace for re-melting pig iron ? The lining would fit with that sort of usage, and if there was a foundry on the site subsequently they may have recycled a dead boiler in that way!

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

Bob Pit
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17 years ago

#14

The Oxland and Hocking calciner consisted of a wrought iron cylinder lined with firebrick, placed on an inclination of 1 in 16 and supported on iron rollers on which it rotated. There is a description and drawing in H T Furguson's paper "On the Mechanical Appliances used for Dressing Tin and Copper Ores in Cornwall" Proc Institute of Mech Engineers, 24 (1873) The inside diameter was said to be approximately 3ft and the length up to 32ft, although this probably varied

Is that about right?

Can't understand 'ow I got the sack boay, I burnt twice s'much coal as they other stokers

Peter Burgess
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Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

#15

Spot on! :thumbup:

Earlier today I got a PM suggesting more or less the same, but I thought I'd let the topic ride to see if anyone else came up with the same idea. And this wasn't a quiz, I genuinely didn't know what this was, though my guess of a 'rotary calciner' was close I suppose.