MONSTER MACHINERY.
The colossal crane at Woolwich has been upwards of four years in process of erection. To give some idea of this stupendous piece of mechanism for lifting great weight, it may be stated that 1800 tons of iron and 3 tons of brass have been used in its construction, and that when it is completed, as it soon will be, it will lift three or four 100-ton guns at once. But a less powerful crane could do that work in detail. This giant among cranes is calculated to raise 1200 tons, and has been formed for meeting the probable necessity of dealing with specimens of ordnance so enormous as t£Tdefy all the means at present available for mounting them on their carriages. The height of the crane is 70 feet, it can sweep around making a circumference of 430 feet, and one man, it is said, can control it at the central cylinder. The motive power is, of course, steam, and our readers may fancy what a 200 or even a 300 ton gun would be like swinging in the air at any height under 70 feet, held in the grasp of this monster machine, which if placed at the side of a harbor, could lift large vessels clean out of the water.
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Bibliographic details
Patea Mail, 24 February 1881, Page 4
Word Count
215MONSTER MACHINERY. Patea Mail, 24 February 1881, Page 4
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