Ransomes and Rapier Face Shovel

Ian Fletcher1970 · Post #1 by **Ian Fletcher1970** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:53 pm

Whilst in Dorset on holiday last week (including taking in the Great Dorset Steam Fair) I came across this old face shovel by the side of the road on the Isle of Portland. It's a Ransomes and Rapier rigged as a face shovel, but with crane jib on the floor next to it. It's obviously a relic of the Portland stone industry. Any ideas anyone of model and history etc. :think:

FOWLER MAN · Post #2 by **FOWLER MAN** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 12:19 am

Hi Ian
That looks like an early Perkins, (can't recall the model name)

, with fuid flywheel transmission. So my guess unless anyone knows different? :?:

Its a 410 or 414 three eighth / half yard machine from the late 30's or 40's. :thumbup:

I think they called the equipment a luffing shovel, :think:

it had no crowd mechanism like a true face-shovel.
Fred

Post #3 by **Jeremy Rowland** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:14 am

Interesting find there Ian :thumbup:

its truly amazing what machines do still survive and escape the cutters torch, lets hope somebody preserves it?

Jeremy

LowTech · Post #4 by **LowTech** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:59 pm

Hi, I came across this post and joined classicmachinery to add these pictures which I took about 3 years ago. I've been watching this old machine (and some other interesting items) rot away over about 8 years. If nothing's salvaged soon it will all disappear under brambles and buddleia.

I've always been interested in industrial machinery and often noted items of old rusting away in hedges and ditches, wondering on their previous lives, especially near old quarries and mines.

However, 3 pics attached.

Post #5 by **Holger** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 4:20 pm

Hi and welcome LowTech! :-)

LowTech · Post #6 by **LowTech** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:48 am

Hello all, and thanks.

Just to add to this post, the UK location of this item is indicated by the arrow in:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=368960&Y=70225&A=Y&Z=120

and it can be seen from the road on google maps using this link:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=southwell+dt5&sll=53.143363,-0.764798&sspn=0.189042,0.441513&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Southwell,+Portland,+Dorset,+United+Kingdom&ll=50.531201,-2.438171&spn=0.000783,0.001725&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=50.531092,-2.43825&panoid=mqBJZr_4BwdVjPLE_w9BtQ&cbp=12,279.87,,0,5

Nearby there is also a rotting SWB Landrover 'cabbed pickup' and a lovely '50s hay rake.

Cheers

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