Water Power at the Mayall Mills
From its beginnings, water was the sole source of energy
to power the mill machinery here. As water passed under the
mill building it turned a waterwheel that was connected to
a system of gears. Energy created by the water’s movement
was transferred to a main shaft that ran up through the building.
At each production level, gears transferred the energy to
a horizontal shaft. Belt wheels connected to this shaft would
then turn leather belts that ran down to each machine. A hand
brake on each machine could tighten and loosen the belt to
start and stop the machinery.
|
