This was Cumbria
Before the days of hydraulic excavators (leaky incontinent things!) rope excavators were the ingenious and robust diggers, lifters and movers. I challenge the viewer to work out how a diesel engine, turning in one direction can have clutches, gears and levers that can throw buckets forward, back, pivot turn, move on tracks, extend the reach of the boom, then empty the bucket.
The skill of the operator and the confusion of the mechanisms are shown in this video. Taken at Threlkeld Quarry at a Vintage Excavator working weekend by Peter Nicholson.
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Created / Uploaded by Peter Nicholson