Line-and-Shaft vs. Electric Motors

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Back in the 80's I was in an old machine shop in Wilmington NC that had a line and shaft system powered by an electric motor.  I don't know what they used before that.

In Rockingham NC there is the remains of an old textile mill that was powered by a small horizontal water turbine driving a line shaft.  This was on a small creek, with a low head brick dam and a penstock to the turbine, which was outside the mill.  The lineshaft ran into the basement through the wall.  There isn't enough left now to tell any more than that.  I have slides somewhere.

John Simmons

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Subject: Re: Line-and-Shaft vs. Electric Motors


I believe that a lot of line shaft systems survived by having their  
steam engines replaced by large electric motors.

pete groom

On Apr 20, 2006, at 7:13 AM, nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org wrote:

Since we are now blessed with "East End Shop" representation on the  
List, perhaps someone has information on the following topoc.

I've been wondering when Roanoke Machine Works/East End Shops made  
the transition from "line-and-shaft" power to electric motor power  
for the operation of its machinery.

By "line-and-shaft" I mean the old system of powering machinery in  
the days before electric motors.  In the line-and-shaft method, power  
is distributed through a building from a stationary steam engine  
through a system of rotating rods, gears and flywheels suspended from  
the roof trusses.  Individual machines are connected to this  
constantly rotating system by a leather belt, which belt may be  
engaged or disengaged from a flywheel on the line-and-shaft by use of  
a hand clutch lever.  Line-and-shaft systems were maintained by a  
craft called "millwrights."

Can you imagine trying to bore a large diameter hole or run a milling  
machine using this old system?

The only line-and-shaft I know of that's still in existence is in the  
old East Broad Top RR shop at Orbisonia, Pa., but, of course, it  
hasn't operated in years.

I've always nwondered about when the transition to electric motors  
for shop machinery took place, as my own great-grandfather was a  
machinist at Roanoke Machine Works from about 1882 to 1934.

Has anyone seen any documentation on this major change in the way of  
doing things?

-- abram burnett
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