Alfred Consols - Identification of Metal Object?

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wheal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

I have uploaded some photos of a metal object into the album. Any ideas?

[mod]Titled amended.[/mod]

poke around long enough and you'll find something..

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royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

What do you want to do?
If you want to put it in a forum posting just past in the link.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

wheal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/album/ALFRED-CONSOLS-Mine-User-Album/?uid=1070

Any ideas on the metal object?

poke around long enough and you'll find something..

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Can you give a description please to supplement the photos.

At a glance the pictures suggests a boiler of early construction, possibly put to another use.
What could you see inside it?
I see what appears to be an open door?
Is it all of riveted iron construction?

My avatar is a poor likeness.

wheal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

3/8th plate. All iron and heavily riveted. Approx 2m high and tapered. There is a door approx 50cm x 80cm. Interior same as exterior. Close to site of Davey's shaft.

poke around long enough and you'll find something..

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Part of a steam boiler used, with ends cut off, as a bunker - it would have been loaded from the top. Possibly coal?

I recognise the shape of this boiler but its name escapes me - I'll rummage in some books...

KH....
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Well done for finding it! I always thought (25 years ago) it was an early prototype Apollo Lander, circa 19 th century, you are getting perilously close to my patch for clandestine exploring 😉

Morrisman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Possibly the fire tube of a Conish Boiler put to another use. Very similar looking item at East Pool Mine, but lying on its side. That one had been used as a tar boiler by a local drive layer.:o

wheal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Will get back with more info when my broadband decides to work properly. Apparently I am in the 5% in Cornwall that cannot/will not get superfast broadband. Daveys shaft originally housed the engine that is now at Robinsons Shaft south Crofty via Tregurtha Downs etc.

poke around long enough and you'll find something..

KH....
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#10

My humble opinion is that it was used to explore the shafts there, a safe place to be with falling rocks etc. possibly lowered from a portable rig for an examination of the shafts, much like they did in the St Day area, I would expect this was a recycled item. Looks bomb proof!

wheal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#11

We also thought it was part of an Apollo rocket when kids. Has been suggested that it was a one person air raid shelter too.

It does look like a boiler of some sort -especially with the heavy riveting. Looks like it was designed to take some pressure but the shape is intriguing.

poke around long enough and you'll find something..

Tony Blair
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#12

I recall seeing something similar in a book I have somewhere (which could take some digging out) and I'm sure there is a photo of one of the Barncoose Adit shafts in Pool with a portable steam engine on it and a headgear used for adit clearing.

My money would be on a portable steam engine boiler!

A question which may shed more light on it would be "Was there any prospecting/activity in the area which would have required such a thing?

Could it have been bought there from elsewhere for it's secondary purpose....not a pressure vessel... Perhaps it was a fire vessel for someone's deceased shed.

With that degree of riveting, it's got to be a pressure vessel.

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#13

It's shaped very much like a rod or ball mill

wheal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#14

Wheal Alfred Consols is connected to and later became part of Wheal Alfred. It occupies the eastern part of the site and has a boundary with Herland Mine. The mine is an old one with 1000 employed there in 1800. It would have been active on and off through the 18th, 19th and early 20th century so prospecting on a large and small scale would be almost continuous. There are many shafts nearby - mostly 19th century but all of these are on higher ground. The metal object is at the bottom of a massive 'burrow' slope next to a bog and river. It must have been placed there in order to explain why it is upright. My estimation is that it weighs at least 2-3 tons so not an easy task. There does not appear to be any hook or fixing point at the top nor is there any sign of mechanical wear inside. Alfred Consols last worked in 1862 so this might be a clue to its age.

poke around long enough and you'll find something..

somersetminer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#15

I would go with the boiler theory, Geevor had some like it

however it doesnt have any bolt holes for the lining segments

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#16

Yep, a pity about the lack of lining bolt holes but would suggest the the circled plate lap takes it out of the pressure vessel category? Just guesswork on my part

[photo]Personal-Album-1695-Image-99123[/photo]

somersetminer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#17

dont know enough about boiler manufacture regs, sorry. possibly dependant on age?

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#18

It's quite an unusual method of doing a 4 plate lap on a pressure vessel.

Fig13 is much more suitable where sections are rotated to avoid 4 plate overlaps.

http://gluedideas.com/Collected-Works/Cyclopedia-of-Mechanical-Engineering-Vol-4-p1/Arrangements-of-Plates-and.html

Edit: Perhaps different techniques were the practice when the item in question was constructed

somersetminer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#19

thanks for that, good info!
yeah maybe when the village/mine blacksmith was making them things were a bit different

lozz
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#20

Alfred used to be a hot spot for pyromorphite xtals.

Lozz.