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Mining.
We lately inspected Mr Wallace's patent steam quartz crushing apparatus, as erected and at the work at Kerr’s Union Foundry, at the corner of Eyre and Doveton streets. The patent differs from all other plans of crushing, in that no steam engine Is required, each stamper shaft being surmounted by a dome, in which the shaft works as a piston-rod, the power being obtained by steam conveyed to the dome from a boiler. We saw the battery at work, and the action seemed to us to be easy and regular, while the whole apparatus is far less costly and far less bulky than the ordinary stamping batteries, with their lumbering cams, and so forth. What the practical value of the invention may be we do not pretend of course to say, but from what we saw and heard the patent appears to merit patronage. The patentee is an engineer of some years experience at Egerton, Gordon, and other places, and brings to bear therefore, it is to be presumed, some considerable practical acquaintance with the delects and requirements of existing reducing processes. The following detail of the peculiarities has been supplied to us by the features in the machine are its simplicity and durability, combined with a great modification in the first cost. Each battery consists of two stamps wholly independent of each other, so that one can be idle while the other is at work. They strike a blow of about 800 to 1000 lbs. each, and the stroke can be so regulated to give any required blow. It cannot possibly get deranged in any of its parts, being a balanced valve, and so contrived that time can but improve it in action. The speed is wholly under control; from 150 to to 200 blows per minute is about the average, on 30lbs pressure of steam. Therefore, taking the most improved machinery of the present day for reducing, each stamp will be capable of effecting three to four times the quantity done by the present stamp. Its being constructed in an iron frame, it can be placed at work in an incredibly short space of time. Most, if not all the present machines in Ballarat have taken over six to twelve months before extracting any gold, whereas this principle will only involve about two or three weeks’ loss of time. Its cost is only about one third the present machinery employed; from £400 to £500 will enable parties to crush from 80 to 100 tons per week at a much less cost than at present. Including wear and tear on all its parts, labor, and fuel, about 3s to 4s per ton is the maximum current cost. Costly buildings and elaborate foundations are dispensed with, and to parties requiring to shift the machine it offers considerable advantages. The necessity of a separate steam engine is dispensed with, save and except where winding or pumping is required, in that case the engine supplies the boiler with water as also the stamps. The heads and beds can be renewed with about five minutes delay, one serious expense in the present batteries. The actual weight of stamp, rod, &c., to be lifted is only about 400lb, but exhausting through the piston gives about 200lb. more in downward stroke from the larger area to be acted on, and that, with velocity, gives the extra weight actually fallen."[2]
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