Air compressor
Bellis and Morcom
Category
Machinery and industrial devices
Date
1932
Materials
Steel, cast iron and bronze
Measurements
3900 mm (Length)2700 mm (H)2100 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Dolaucothi Estate, Carmarthenshire
NT 66410
Summary
Bellis and Morcom large air compressor used for powering tools and pumping air into the mine, dates from 1932. S/N 2267. (Halkyn collection)
Provenance
Gifted into the care of the National Trust as part of the Halkyn collection in 1987 from the Olwyn Goch Lead Mine, Halkyn, North Wales. In 1962, the Holywell-Halkyn Mining and Tunnel Co. Ltd, together with Halkyn District United Mines Ltd, became subsidiaries of Courtaulds, which wished to maintain the Milwr tunnel to supply water to its Greenfields viscose factory. Mining continued sporadically until 1977, when the mines were closed. In 1985 the Greenfields factory closed and the Olwyn Goch (Halkyn N Wales) mineshaft headgear, buildings and mineyard equipment were donated by Courtaulds Viscose Europe to the National Trust. The items were transported to Dolaucothi and the headgear and buildings were re-erected in 1987. The dismantling, transport and re-erection operation was sponsored by private and public sources including the Welsh Development Agency and the Wales Tourist Board.
Makers and roles
Bellis and Morcom, manufacturer