The Paddle Gear Thread (formerly Cheshire Paddle Gear)

[Ray T]

17 hours ago, magpie patrick said:

Another couple of different paddles - this time from Hawkesbury 

 

First, one of the ground paddles at the lock.

 

 

Ground paddle at the other end.

Edited April 22, 2022 by Ray T

[magpie patrick]

Farmers Bridge - simple and solid. I was about to describe this as typical BCN but then I remembered that I posted gear from the Tame Valley which is also BCN but is rather different. 

[magpie patrick]

Just spotted these whiolst researching a possible (in my dreams!) trip to see some canals in the USA - Swamp Locks, Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell, Mass

 

It appears the spiked wheel turns cogs that in turn open a rotating valve in the gate.... I've seen the valve in the gate elsewhere, but tno this method of opening them!

 

 

[Derek R.]

You'd have a job sticking one of those in your belt!

 

I'm thinking the star wheel turns a shaft with worm gear on the end, connected to the large horizontal gear. That when turned, turns the vertical shaft and another spiral gear connected to the sluice which is thereby lifted. Complicated, and vulnerable.

Ah - no - a 'rotating' paddle, Da Vinci style.

Edited August 26, 2022 by Derek R.

[Pluto]

The Conca dell' Incoranata in Milan, though they don't seem to have discovered how the paddles were operated when it was restored.

[magpie patrick]

43 minutes ago, Pluto said:

The Conca dell' Incoranata in Milan, though they don't seem to have discovered how the paddles were operated when it was restored.

 In theory you could operate them by holding them closed with a pin and removing the pin - if the swivel were off centre water pressure would open them. However getting them closed again before a level made would be "interesting..."

[magpie patrick]

An interesting one - bottom gates of Fairfield Top Lock on the Ashton Canal - I walked from Guide Bridge to Manchester Piccadilly along the canal today. 

 

Hydraulic gate gear dating from the restoration and uprights for ground paddles that are no longer used and I suspect haven't been used for many a long year.

 

Fairfield Locks also have a second redundant chamber alongside - they were paired at one point. The lower redundant chamber had some evidence of having once had bottom ground paddles but not of the other locks did. The evidence could have been lost in rebuilding of course. 

 

I'll probably do a thread on locks of the Ashton when I get a moment

[ditchcrawler]

55 minutes ago, magpie patrick said:

An interesting one - bottom gates of Fairfield Top Lock on the Ashton Canal - I walked from Guide Bridge to Manchester Piccadilly along the canal today. 

 

Hydraulic gate gear dating from the restoration and uprights for ground paddles that are no longer used and I suspect haven't been used for many a long year.

 

Fairfield Locks also have a second redundant chamber alongside - they were paired at one point. The lower redundant chamber had some evidence of having once had bottom ground paddles but not of the other locks did. The evidence could have been lost in rebuilding of course. 

 

I'll probably do a thread on locks of the Ashton when I get a moment

I see from the stoppage list one lock has just popped it cill

[magpie patrick]

20 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

I see from the stoppage list one lock has just popped it cill

Yes, this one...

 

I took the photos whilst trying to help a crew fill it...

[JCO]

One for Magpie Patrick,

A couple of years ago there was a thread on the Glamorganshire Canal, discussing the North Road bridge by Cardiff Castle and the paddle gear.

Not the best pic, but does it help?

JCO

 

[magpie patrick]

On 14/04/2023 at 18:45, JCO said:

One for Magpie Patrick,

A couple of years ago there was a thread on the Glamorganshire Canal, discussing the North Road bridge by Cardiff Castle and the paddle gear.

Not the best pic, but does it help?

JCO

 

 

 

Sorry, I've only just spotted this!

 

I used to live in Cardiff, but it's a few years since I've been back and even more since I last saw this. I noticed the paddle gear but had never looked at it in detail. That gear is quite distinctive and doesn't seem to belong on any other canal, so it's probably from the Glamorgan Canal. I don't know of any other surviving gear to compare it with.

 

Thanks!  

[magpie patrick]

Not my photos, but just to show someone can always find a different way. 

 

Fox River Navigation, Wisconsin - the historic navigation is in process of being restored and these photos were taken before work started on one of the locks. Three ground paddles side by side opening valves on the floor above the top gates. 

[ditchcrawler]

May have been mentioned but wwe have just done the Upper Avon and the paddle gear looks very French

[magpie patrick]

2 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

May have been mentioned but wwe have just done the Upper Avon and the paddle gear looks very French

ISTR that French paddle gear was acquired from VNF when the upper Avon was restored - not sure how much of it survives in France now as many locks that used it have been mechanised 

[John Brightley]

6 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

May have been mentioned but wwe have just done the Upper Avon and the paddle gear looks very French

Yes, you're correct, some are French, and at least one has its manufacturers plate still in place (I noticed it when we came up the Avon the day before we met you last week). Unfortunately I didn't take a photo but I think it is on one of the locks between Welford and Stratford. I think from memory there was a date on the plate which was about 1993. I was surprised about the late date as it was well after the lock was originally restored.

Edited August 7, 2023 by John Brightley

[ditchcrawler]

41 minutes ago, John Brightley said:

Yes, you're correct, some are French, and at least one has its manufacturers plate still in place (I noticed it when we came up the Avon the day before we met you last week). Unfortunately I didn't take a photo but I think it is on one of the locks between Welford and Stratford. I think from memory there was a date on the plate which was about 1993. I was surprised about the late date as it was well after the lock was originally restored.

I wish I had looked closer now

[Pluto]

13 hours ago, John Brightley said:

Yes, you're correct, some are French, and at least one has its manufacturers plate still in place (I noticed it when we came up the Avon the day before we met you last week). Unfortunately I didn't take a photo but I think it is on one of the locks between Welford and Stratford. I think from memory there was a date on the plate which was about 1993. I was surprised about the late date as it was well after the lock was originally restored.

I would suspect from the Canal d'Ille et Rance, which still has wooden gates.