Georgii Argicolae de re metallica libri XII. Froben, Basel; 1556; book VI, p.125. Woodcut of the fifth ‘’ for raising ore or water from mines.This horse-powered winch, shown as occupying three levels at the pithead, has a brake to stop the machine when a full bucket is to be emptied. The brake is applied by the workman on the lowest level sitting on the L-shaped seat to depress it, then fixing it down by wedging the plank he is holding against the roof.

Free translation of figure legend. A: Toothed wheel attached to the [vertical] shaft. B. Horizontal shaft. C: Wheel made of castings [a pinion]. D: Wheel near the latter [in fact, the brake drum]. E: Drum made up of round bars [the winding drum]. F: Brake-lever [this refers to the beam passing through the ground which, when pulled down, forces the depression in the beam H against the drum D]. G: Pivoted beam. H: Short beam [which carries the brake shoe]. I: Hook [to tilt the hoisted bucket for emptying].

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