MacKay_Letter_134
Item
-
Title
-
MacKay_Letter_134
-
Description
-
Letter from James Douglass to J McKay relaying to him a new mechanical method he has planned that he thinks will make milling wheat more efficient. On the lower right he has drawn a sketch of how the machinery should be set up. No date.
Transcription:
Memphis St. Clair Co Michigan
Mr J McKay Sir
I received yours through my son from Alexander when I left you I came to Michigan and agreed to Superintend the putting in of 4 new wheels in a grist mill am now doing the work the wheels and other repairs will take me until the fore part of Sept -
Since I was at your place I have thought of a plan that your mill might run by the Scroll Wheel by putting a wheel on an upright shaft and Bevel Cone wheel on the shaft to mash in to a pinion on a horizontal shaft and belt from a drum on the horizontal to the saw shaft under the sawgate on sash - by having 2 pitmans and 2 cranks one on each end of the shaft and the pitmans about 9 feet long and attaching to each side of the sash thus you will then ceive wheat thus made will place the cranks up high and dry out of roater the pitmans can be very light -
There should be 2 fly wheels on the crank shaft to steady the motion and prevent the backlash of the gearing saw on sash should run on rods to prevent getting loose the bearing on the backside of the sash in this [?] you could do business with a very little water
Yours Respectfully
[signed] James Douglass
-
Identifier
-
MacKay_Letter_134.jpg
-
Creator
-
Kristen Walker
-
Subject
-
Letter
-
Publisher
-
Izzy Moyer; Kristen Walker; Jill Johnson; and Renee Guerin
-
Date Created
-
2023.10.30
-
Type
-
Correspondance
-
Letter
-
Format
-
.jpg
-
Medium
-
Paper
-
Rights Holder
-
Genesee Country Village & Museum
-
Rights
-
Genesee Country Village & Museum creates opportunities for material, object, and place availability from their collections and location accessible to the public for personal and educational research purposes pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Within the stipulations of the museum and related rights legislation that applies to your use, it is your responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright holder to publish or reproduce images in print or electronic form; and, it is strictly prohibited for commercial use without prior communication and agreement with the institution first.
Mackay_Letter_0134.jpg