Textile Mill Diorama

[ddmckee54]

If I remember correctly, you stitch the joints in your belts, don't you?

I don't imagine there's too much call for the alligator style flat belt lacing that size.

Don

[J.L.]

Hi Don,
Yes, I use heavy glove thread to represent cut rawhide lace leather. You will note in the first photo that the lacing is parallel on the inside face of the belt. The crisscrossing was always done on the other side.

Leather belts were also skived, lapped and glued. Metal connectors were also very common, but never used in high speed applications. Quoting from Strelinger's catalog:

"For Electrical, and in fact all high speed machinery, the Belting used should be a cemented belt, without rivets or metallic fastenings of any kind."

[J.L.]

The first of four line shaft belts is in place. It will carry power upstairs to ceiling and floor line shafts and carry on into the woodworking shop to power the table saw and perhaps a converted wood lathe.

[JC54]

Just a quick question, was there any tensioning on each belt or did it rely on belt fit?

[derekwarner]

JC....as an apprentice  many many years ago I remember making new flat leather belts with that patiented  alligator pinched/crimped wire ends + a  twine type wire inserted & locking the halves for form the endless loop

It was an art form getting the spacing of each half just out of step with the other so they intertwined however with the sides of the belt square

In may cases, a small arm with a counterweight and a 3rd flat pulley provided the tension and drive

The belts were always finished side outer, so the drive was via the unleavened side of the leather

Rosen [a yellow powder from crushed yellow rock??] was sprinkled between the pulley & belt during rotation to gain friction

In most cases, each pulley was radius crowned, so the belts always rode on the highest point of diameter

Derek

PS....as part of the training, we had to measure the diameter of each pulley, measure the centre distance & calculate the the length of leather belting to be cut, we also had to show our calculations to a Tradesman [or Foreman] to back check to ensure no wastage  of leather

[J.L.]

Hi Derek. Good personal information about mechanical belt fasteners. Thanks.

JC, to furthur answer your question, there were commercial belt tighteners available at that time. Derek mentioned  a small arm with a counterweight and a 3rd flat pulley provided the tension and drive.

The first photo shows the gravity type. Along with it are photos of one I made for the 19th Century Machine Shop Diorama.

The last shot is a cut of the the mechanical type where a sled on a track was advanced to bear against the belt.

Thanks for asking.

John
 

[J.L.]

The belt work is complete in the engine room except for the little belt that will come through the floor up to the floor mounted line shaft upstairs.

The engineers will not be very happy with the carpenters who drilled some holes in the beams and flooring. Obviously they neglected to put a tarp over the flywheel. 

[crueby]

Messy carpenters aside, that is looking terrific! Easy to forget its a scale model, your realism is fantastic.   

[b.lindsey]

You are getting close now John. Looks fantastic as always.

Bill

[rspringer]

Love the attention to detail.  The little "clacker" on the shaft.  I really like the sound several on the same shaft make and watching them run back and forth.  Going to see what is one of the longest working overhead drive systems left in the US next weekend. 

[J.L.]

Thank you fellows.

Bill, I won't even be through the door into the woodworking shop at the back until November.

Hello  rspringer 

Thank you.  What a fascinating visit that will be! If you get a few shots feel free to post them on this thread. 

[10KPete]

Outstanding!!! 

 

Pete

[fumopuc]

Hi John, that's brilliant.

[JC54]

Many thanks all for the replies re- belt tensioning,  John

[J.L.]

You are very welcome.

When I was reviewing some of my early photos of line shafts, hangers,belts and pulleys, I came upon some that may be of interest here since the topic is being discussed.