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Thread: Whisperings
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12th December 2011, 07:17 PM #121SENIOR MEMBER
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12th December 2011, 07:38 PM #122Distracted Member
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12th December 2011, 08:40 PM #123Member
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I would also like to register my thanks. I also had a great time.
Many thanks,
Jayson.
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12th December 2011, 08:45 PM #124
Many thanks from me too, Phil!
What a great day!
I have a completely new appreciation for the 'works' at Sovereign Hill. Must take my grandkids there one day soon.
Joe
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12th December 2011, 09:39 PM #125SENIOR MEMBER
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12th December 2011, 10:15 PM #126
Hi Phil,
Thinking back on the day, I'm impressed by the presentations and how comprehensive and entertaining they were. The wheelwright was fascinating, I still have trouble comprehending how something seemingly so fragile could take the sort of day-in day-out punishment meted out by rattling over rough roads at speed.. those guy's knew their stuff.
So, for all those who couldn't make it here's a small taste of what you missed..
Here's a few pictures of the start of making a wheel hub, a hub used to take 5 hours or so with a skilled craftsman, with these machines and a good operator, you could make hundreds per day.
The blank is sawn from a green log, and first operation is to drill a tapered hole with a shell bit, to mount the blank on a tapered mandrel.
Drilling the hub takes only a few seconds, using the steam powered lineshaft.
The hub is then turned using a special purpose lathe.
Man is that thing fast, zip and the diameter is reduced in a few seconds using that veneering knife,
I missed the opportunity to get a picture while he was turning it, but you would have to be quick.
Harty, had more presence of mind than me and got a great action shot of the hub lathe in operation. (I hope you don't mind if I repost here) ..
Next cut the mortises for the spokes..
The mortising machine was a joy to behold, cam operated and lots of compound actions, a pilot hole is drilled first using the drill built into the machine, and you manually index the blank, drilling holes at each mortise location, then the mortising is fully automatic after that.
Again, Harty has better pictures than me..
Some sample hubs..
We then moved on to equally impressive spoke making machines, lathes that turned elliptical profiles and tennoning machines.
Then outside we went to watch how the hub and spokes were assembled (after 5 years of drying) and the how the steel rims were fitted.. I'll put the fitting of the steel rims in a separate post.
I hope I've got all that correct. If any one has more pictures, mine haven't got that eye for composition that Harty has displayed...
Regards
Ray
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12th December 2011, 10:29 PM #127.
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What wonderfully evocative photos Harty. I can nearly smell the place. Beautiful work.
BT
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12th December 2011, 10:34 PM #128
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12th December 2011, 10:34 PM #129GOLD MEMBER
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That pony tail looks like a killer,all that belting floping around.
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12th December 2011, 10:52 PM #130.
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12th December 2011, 11:15 PM #131GOLD MEMBER
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Isnt that a circle cutter?Maybe it can roll edges as well?
Stuart
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13th December 2011, 12:04 AM #132Senior Member
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I too would like to offer up my most heartfelt thanks to Phil and Phil for organizing a fantastic day. I would also like to thank the other members of staff we encountered who made a special day even more enjoyable.
To get the chance to see up close the workings of such marvelous machines is an experience but to have the access all areas priveleges arranged by Phill made for a truly unique day I'll not soon forget.
This is only the second time I've been to Sovereign Hill and its been more than twenty years since my last visit but I'll be back there soon with he kids in tow.
I reckon it is without doubt the most authentic living museum I know of. There are plenty of places you can see old engines running but to see them not only run but do the work they were designed to do is truly rare.
Here are some of my favourite photos from the day.
Thanks again fellas.
Cheers,
Greg
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13th December 2011, 11:00 AM #133Intermediate Member
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- Lilydale, Victoria
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13th December 2011, 11:02 AM #134Intermediate Member
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13th December 2011, 11:12 AM #135Intermediate Member
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Phil,
Not exactly the big take home message, but I have found myself thinking over and over about that bucket with the miners with one leg in and one out and going down in the dark at free fall speed. A strange and haunting tale..., and made more so by the relics, rusting and puzzling bits of old iron in the bone yard, and the lovely functioning ones in your care. Jeez it was good.
Thanks for that.
Michael