Author Topic: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama  (Read 217864 times)

Offline gbritnell

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #990 on: June 30, 2017, 03:49:55 PM »
John,
The video, like the entire project, is a masterpiece. I followed along, patiently waiting for each installment, never to be disappointed. Your eye for detail and the creation of all the minute parts is just mind blowing.
Thank you so much for taking us on the journey.
gbritnell
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Offline Tin Falcon

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #991 on: July 01, 2017, 06:29:55 PM »
Quote
I mention it , because they also have a display area for model steam engines. I am seriously thinking about approaching them regarding this diorama.

Cheers...John

I would suggest a loan and some sort of binding contract. There used to be a Miniature Toy museum in Delaware. The collection had some fine steam engines in it. The doors closed and the collection went to auction  sold by the piece or in small lots to the highest bidder.
Also make sure the model is properly displayed and maintained. Museum directors change as do priorities . So If you choose to display your model there make sure it is protected and cared for.
Respectfully
 Tin Falcon

Offline Alan Haisley

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #992 on: July 10, 2017, 05:04:11 AM »
John,
The diorama is just stunning. I understood everything except the rings on the overhead shaft. What were these made of in full size and what is their purpose?
Alan

Offline J.L.

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #993 on: July 10, 2017, 11:50:09 AM »
Thank you Alan.



The idea of the hoops on the line shafts came from a video I saw of rings rotating and sliding back and forth above the heads of workmen in a real belt driven machine shop. The rings intrigued me. I must try to find that video on the internet. They are made from aluminum wire.

Alan, I can only guess their use.  :thinking:

Perhaps they were just a visual cue that the shafts were turning (although, even if the belts weren't running, the pulleys would be) or perhaps they just kept the shafts clean.

Thanks for asking.

John

Offline ShopShoe

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #994 on: July 10, 2017, 02:27:03 PM »
J.L.,

I think we may have seen the same video.

I believe that the purpose of the rings was to keep the shafts clean. (In a related way, in the 1960's we used to put loose leather straps around the hubs on our bicycles for the same reason: Bling was a small reflector on said strap.)

On one of the line-shaft videos I watched I believe the rings were called "mice".

Found It:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnO222giZzc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnO222giZzc</a>

Near the end, around 27:10.

Regards,

ShopShoe

Offline mklotz

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #995 on: July 10, 2017, 03:16:56 PM »
When I visited the Knight Foundry...

http://knightfoundry.com/

a water-powered, line-shaft machine shop, they had the rings on the shafts as well.  I too asked about them and was told they were to keep the shafts clean.  Now, the whole place was knee-deep in a century and a half of dirt so I couldn't understand the compulsion for shaft cleanliness.  Raising this issue, the foundry staff had no answers.

The diesel-powered spic-and-spam clean line shaft machine shop at the Mount Wilson observatory has them too and their staff was equally clueless about why shaft cleanliness was such an obsession.

My guess is that they were noise-makers used to keep the pigeons from roosting in the rafters.  :-)
Regards, Marv
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Offline crueby

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #996 on: July 10, 2017, 03:19:12 PM »
I wonder if keeping the line shafts clean was a holdover from the ones used in textile mills, where the threads/fluff building up on the shafts would become (yet another) fire hazard, and also gum up the bearings?

Offline J.L.

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #997 on: July 10, 2017, 05:55:54 PM »
Gentlemen,

All plausable answers to the question.

Thank you ShopShoe for the link to the video.

I must say that this type of interaction where we brainstorm ideas together is one of the strengths of this site. The free exchange of ideas is wonderful.  :ThumbsUp:

Cheers...John

P.S. Marv, I love that idea of keeping the pigeons from roosting. Why not?

Chris, I've seen pictures of very young bare footed children crawling under looms running at full tilt attempting to pluck threads and fluff from the machinery. Your idea is close to the factory owner's concerns.

Offline mklotz

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #998 on: July 10, 2017, 06:23:47 PM »
Then there's the Victorian fidget spinner theory...

A decorative ring (the Victorians decorated everything) falls off a line shaft pulley and runs up and down the shaft ringing gently.

Down below...

Hey, look at that!  Isn't that neat the way it moves?

The shop foreman, visiting from a shop across town to deliver prints, says, "Yeah, neat, I gotta have one."

...and a long-lived Victorian fad is born.
Regards, Marv
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Offline J.L.

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #999 on: July 10, 2017, 06:46:21 PM »
 :Lol: :Lol: :Lol:

Offline mklotz

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #1000 on: July 10, 2017, 08:26:06 PM »
BTW, John,

Over on the Homemadetools forum, I posted a reference...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/model-steam-era-machine-shop-62174

to your video.

While it's not specifically a model-making forum, many of the folks enjoy reading about what the likes of folks like us do in our spare time.

Regards, Marv
Home Shop Freeware
https://www.myvirtualnetwork.com/mklotz

Online wagnmkr

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #1001 on: August 25, 2021, 09:06:59 PM »
It is with great sadness that I have to add to this thread to say that my very good friend passed away yesterday. He lost his ongoing battle with Cancer. John Madill had one of the most inventive minds I have ever know, and I will miss his dry humor and incredible imagination.

RIP Old Friend!

Tom
« Last Edit: August 25, 2021, 09:16:30 PM by wagnmkr »
I was cut out to be rich ... but ... I was sewn up all wrong!

Offline Johnmcc69

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #1002 on: August 25, 2021, 09:33:12 PM »
Geez..
 I'm at a loss for words. John was always an inspiration & his models were incredible.
 
 My thoughts go out to his family & friends, very sorry to hear this wagonmkr.

 John

Offline Jo

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #1003 on: August 25, 2021, 09:47:54 PM »
Thank you for letting us know Tom,

John's model dioramas were an inspiration to us all. We will all miss him

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: A 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama
« Reply #1004 on: August 25, 2021, 09:59:08 PM »
That is sad news, I always enjoyed John's work and ideas.

Dave

 

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