114 



SKSTRUMENT FOR COUNTING THt LIFTS FROM A MINE. 



Inflrument for 

 counting the 

 lifts from a 



XI. 



Vefcription of am Injirument to a/certain the Number of Lifts 

 made from a Mine, in am/ given Time, Bj/ Mr, John 

 Antis*. 



SIR, 



A HAVE lately been encouraged by fome gentlemen engaged 

 in fome coal mines in this neighbourhood, to invent a machine, 

 which would infallibly tell the number of boxes of coals drawn 

 out of a pit in the courfe of a week, or any given time. I 

 havejuft now completed a model, which I think would anfwer 

 the purpofe extremely well. 



Before, however, I make it known, I thought I would 

 inquire of you, whether fuch an invention might be of a more 

 extenfive ufe, and as fuch would deferve the attention of the 

 Society. 



The machine Is very limple, and need not be expenfive; 

 its properties are as follow : 



1. It is of no confequence if the pit be ten, twenty, forty, 

 or more yards deep. It will, notwithftanding this difference, 

 only point out one box at once ; and, fuppofing the pit to be 

 feveral hundred yards deep, the principle will remain the 

 fame, and the machine could be eafily adapted for it. 



2. It is likewife of no confequence if the coals be drawn up 

 by a hand windlafs, or any other machine turned by horfes or 

 other powers. 



3. No account is neceffary to be kept for a whole week, or 

 any given time, as the machine can be calculated for any 

 quantity of coals whatever, that can be drawn up in a given lime. 

 Only allowance muft be made for the number of perfons that go 

 down and up in the fame way. 



l have not yet heard of any contrivance of this kind ; and 

 therefore, if there be any fuch, it is unjknown to me. Who- 

 ever knows the fraud, which is but too often committed by 

 bankfmen, in accounting for the quantity of coals procured 

 from a pit, will readily admit the utility of fuch a contrivance. 

 And it may raoft likely alfo be ufeful in tin, lead, and other 



• From the Tranfaftions of the Society of Arts, 1803. 



mme^. 



