D. B. Macaw's Foundry
Background
Macaw was said to have been born near Coleraine; a town situated on the banks of the River Bann in the north of Ireland. He arrived, in Ballarat in 1832, and was identified with the rise and, progress of this district. During his long residence here he had been engaged in mining' and commercial pursuits.[1]
History
During his long residence in Ballarat, he had been engaged in mining' and commercial pursuits and he was for a long while associated with Mr Price’s cooperage in the Main road. In 1875, he started business on his own account in Mair as D. B. MACAW AND SON, MINING AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS, &C., 22 MAIR STREET and 101 MAIN ROAD, BALLARAT. He devoted a good deal of attention to the work of supplying mining plants and carrying on of a miscellaneous hardware trade. [2]
Site
D. B. MACAW AND SON, MINING AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MAKERS, &C., 22 MAIR STREET and 101 MAIN ROAD, BALLARAT.
Innovations
MaCaw & Sons also invented a Mining Safety Cage, The safety appliances of Macaw’s cage consists of four eccentric wheel discs ( two on each side), which on being turned, grasps their skids. The discs furnished with teeth at the aprt where they come into contact with the skids and are connected by arms and a cross-bar with the rod carrying the weight of the cage; whilst the weight is on, the discs are kept away from the skids, whilst should the rope break, two strong springs, “B” force the dics round. With our tests the cage acted well at a depth of 420feet but failed on the surfaces. This may partly be accounted for from the heavy back drag from the Manilla Rope used Weight 14CWT Cost 22 pound
." [3]
Community Involvement
Mr Macaw was one of the original members of the Ballarat Fire Brigade.
He was an active member of the Orphan Asylum committee, he was president and vice-president of the Orphan Asylum. vice-president.
He was also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. [4]
Works Produced
MACAW’S CITY COOPERAGE, MINING " AND AGBICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MANUFACTORY, supplied a range of Mining and Agricultural implements
Workplace Relations
The People
Legacies
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ The Ballarat Star, Wednesday 17th June 1885, p3
- ↑ The Ballarat Star, Wednesday 17th June 1885, p3
- ↑ Report of the Safety Mining Cages Board, relative to the different patterns of safety mining cages u Victoria. Safety Mining Cages Board. Melbourne : Government Printer, 1890.
- ↑ The Ballarat Star, Wednesday 17th June 1885, p3
Further Reading
External Links
https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/53daf2279821f513b885684f
--Beth Kicinski 13:42, 16 March 2016 (AEDT)