How in the world did the Olde Pulley Lane acquire those ornate old Main St street lamps? More importantly, how did that City Council and that Menasha Historical Society let them go? SMHS 1960
The pulleys were used in factories and mills with belt-driven machinery. The belt would wind around the pulley (which was attached to a shaft) and thereby transmit power to the equipment. Pulleys could be changed to bigger or smaller sizes if needed to provide additional (or lesser) power, torque, and speed for different operations.
David is correct (as always). Prior to the advent of inexpensive electric motors (and OSHA), entire factories and shops where power by a series of shafts, pulleys, and belts. The systems were commonly known as line shafts, and had little if any safety guarding. That's probably one of the reasons that lots of old factories and mills needed their own ambulance.
So - are you saying that there once was a 'factory' where the Pulley Lane Apartment complex now stands? Wouldn't that land have been considered 'contaminated' or a brownfield? Did they need to clean it up before building a housing complex? Or - Was it built before the days of TIF Districts and developer incentives? (new to Menasha)
Yes, the pulley factory was where the apartments are now. When I was a kid in the 60's, the ruins still stood and I used to run around there occasionally; probably a lot of kids did. As far as clean up, etc. I don't know exactly what the city went through to clean it up. Somehow, growing up, school, the military, and moving away got in the way! I have some old photos I will try to find which show the old factory in those days.
What were these pulleys used on? I assume at the various factories in town then.
ReplyDeleteHow in the world did the Olde Pulley Lane acquire those ornate old Main St street lamps? More importantly, how did that City Council and that Menasha Historical Society let them go?
ReplyDeleteSMHS 1960
The pulleys were used in factories and mills with belt-driven machinery. The belt would wind around the pulley (which was attached to a shaft) and thereby transmit power to the equipment. Pulleys could be changed to bigger or smaller sizes if needed to provide additional (or lesser) power, torque, and speed for different operations.
ReplyDeleteDavid is correct (as always). Prior to the advent of inexpensive electric motors (and OSHA), entire factories and shops where power by a series of shafts, pulleys, and belts. The systems were commonly known as line shafts, and had little if any safety guarding. That's probably one of the reasons that lots of old factories and mills needed their own ambulance.
ReplyDeleteSo - are you saying that there once was a 'factory' where the Pulley Lane Apartment complex now stands? Wouldn't that land have been considered 'contaminated' or a brownfield? Did they need to clean it up before building a housing complex? Or - Was it built before the days of TIF Districts and developer incentives? (new to Menasha)
ReplyDeleteYes, the pulley factory was where the apartments are now. When I was a kid in the 60's, the ruins still stood and I used to run around there occasionally; probably a lot of kids did. As far as clean up, etc. I don't know exactly what the city went through to clean it up. Somehow, growing up, school, the military, and moving away got in the way! I have some old photos I will try to find which show the old factory in those days.
ReplyDeleteWow... The History of pullys. There are too many Pulley Manufacturer
ReplyDelete