Is that a crankshaft on the inside? Looks like a 3 cylinder power unit probably used to power a separate rock crusher, or possible water pump, via some kind of chain drive.
A first glance I would have said, petrol / oil fired engine but couldn't understand the single valve arrangement for each cylinder, Compositepro got me thinking. It is a steam engine. What looks like a single valve arrangement is actually a sliding valve timed to open and close an inlet and exhaust port to direct the steam into the cyliders and for the exhaust cycle.
Manufacturer ??
built when ???
use - to drive a flat belt to power something ???? crusher / pump / winding drum.
A bit of mining history.
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
One person I showed the picture to thought it could be a stamp mill designed for crushing rock. However, I was skeptical. The steam engine idea makes more sense considering the size, the belt drives, and the ports.
I love the old mining history. It's very interesting. The folks that live near the old mine, near Colima, Mexico I believe, want to know more about the history. Any other comments would be appreciated.
The picture shown is not a stamping mill, or compressor, or pump - it is an engine which I believe, without any further pictures or information is / was steam powered. However, it might well have driven a stamper or a pump or a compressor or some other piece of mining equipment.
A stamping mill is a stand alone piece of equipment that can be engine driven or water wheel - or electric motor driven (but not in the early days of mining.)
link to stamping mill / crusher
It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. (Sherlock Holmes - A Scandal in Bohemia.)
