Model Firth's patent coal-cutting machine

A finely made model of Firth's coal-cutting machine, possibly commissioned by the company when applying for the patent in 1873.

The machine was manually propelled underground, drive was by a handwheel connected through bevel gears to the wheels.

The cutting arm, mounted for left or right hand operation, was pneumatically driven by a large centrally mounted cylinder with conventional slide valve, the compressed air generated at the surface by steam engine and piped down to the coal face.

A handle on the left hand side allowed the operator to raise and lower the blade at the cutting face.

The six inch gauge track and mount for the cutting arm is of recent manufacture, used to display the model in the previous owner's studio.

It runs well, if with an alarming action, on air with the cutting arm scything back and forth with a good deal of energy. In full-size it must have been cramped down onto the rails to brace against the powerful cutting forces transmitted back through the arm.

Even in those far-off days free from the constraints of Health and Safety, men must have thought twice about being in a confined space with one of these working!