1832 Fairmount Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota
An interesting article appeared in the March 27 issue of
Skillings’ Mining Review, which is published weekly at 210
Sellwood Building, Duluth, Minn. 55802. This article and large
picture told of the Quincy Mine Hoist Association’s efforts to
restore and put on display the largest steam powered mine hoist
shaft house and hoist house at Hancock, Michigan was manufactured
by Nordberg Mfg. Co. in 1920. It weighs 790 long tons and occupies
a 72 by 76 ft. hoist house which is entirely open to a height equal
to that of a four story building. ‘A cross compound steam
engine, with two high-pressure and two low pressure cylinders on
each side, respectively, is attached to the cranks of the drum. The
drum is the cylinder conical type with a maximum diameter of 30
feet and a minimum diameter of 16 feet.’
No other details are provided on the engine, but the picture
indicates it to be of the Corliss type. The cylinders of which are
placed at right angles to one another much like the legs of the
letter ‘A’. I could not see in the picture, all the
cylinders spoken about in the article, but I must say it was very
interesting.
The restoration cost has been initially estimated at $76,000. It
is expected that the project will be completed and open to the
public by June 1966.
The President of the Quincy Mine Hoist Association is Victor A.
Kral.