I was in the back end of a local electric motor shop and they were
using an old lathe built for a line shaft. (flat belt power) It has
been converted to electric motor. It works great and sounds great.
I worked on lots of cider presses that were built for line shaft
power. I always liked a line shaft because it was quiet. It could
be powered by steam engine, one lung gas engine, modern gas engine,
Diesel, water power or horse power. That gives you a nice selection
of ways to power your shop.
It may be 100 years old (or more) but it was a good system in many ways.
Might want to listen to this episode of Planet Money:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/03/05/173561926/episode-441-business-secrets-of-the-amish
Pretty interesting insight into how the Amish adapt to current
society and its needs with their businesses.
I used to do business with some of the Amish communities in Northern
Indiana around Shipshewana and Nappanee. Fascinating people, very
nice and for the most part very accepting of Englishmen if you
respect them and their ways.
My company sold White-Hercules industrial engines, which the Amish
used to run the equipment in their shops. They would buy the engines
from us, driving a hard bargain, and pay cash upon delivery. I liked
to deliver the engines, as it gave me an opportunity to see inside
their lives and businesses as well as to enjoy the amazing meals
they would prepare if you were fortunate enough to be there around
lunch time (which I tried to do as often as possible!)
They would set the engines up in a little shed outside their
workshops, then use the output shaft to drive a pulley and sheave
arrangement in the ceiling of the building. A jack shaft ran the
length of the building, with pulleys driving large leather belts
that were connected to the individual pieces of equipment. An idler
pulley with a large wooden lever would be forced against the leather
belt to tension it to drive the equipment.
Crude, but quite effective. These places used to scare the heck out
of me, as there was no OSHA compliance to be considered. One wrong
move and you could get caught up in one of these huge belts running
all over the place.
One thing I'll always remember is the hardware store in Nappanee.
The Amish were the primary customers, so it was pretty quaint, to
say the least. Like going back in time 100 years...
Dan
Sent from my MBPad
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