<<Early factories used "line shafts" to operate machinery from a common power source, often a large steam engine. Each machine station had a clutch and belt mechanism that often was as simple as sliding the belt from and active or drive pully to an inactive or idler pully.>>
There is a working example of this at Slater's Mills, RI. It was very very cool.
-Heidi
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To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>