Almaden in San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Mine Ventilation Fans

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 15, 2012

1. Mine Ventilation Fans Marker

Inscription. Ventilation fans provided fresh air for miners deep within the mines. Ventilation pipe connected to fans carried air wherever it was needed in the mine to provide miners with breathable air by diluting and displacing dust and noxious gases. Fans were designed to run continuously with little or no maintenance. Fans were normally mounted on platforms well clear of the mine entrance and far away from equipment traffic so as to provide the cleanest and coolest air possible.

Examples shown here are centrifugal fans, also known as radial fans. The rotation of an impeller, located within the casing, causes air to travel through it in a radial direction, developing air pressure as it does so. These two examples are rather simple in design, as they do not provide for speed or air volume control. Electricity to power the ventilation fans was a major cost factor, accounting for as much as one-third of the electrical power for a typical underground mine.

These fans were used in the Guadalupe mine from the 1940s until the mine closed in the 1970s. The Guadalupe Rubbish Company donated the fans to NAQCPA in 1987.

Louis Allis Centrifugal Fan
Manufacturer: The Louis Allis Co., Milwaukee, WI
Power: 220/440V, 3ɸ, 60 Hz, 26.4/13.2A, 10 HP
Output: 100 CFM @ 40 PSI

Joy Centrifugal Fan
Manufacturer:

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Joy Manufacturing Co., New Philadelphia, Ohio
Power 220/440V, 3ɸ, 60 Hz, 63/31.5 A, 25 HP
Output: 200 CFM @ 41 PSI

Erected by The California State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution and New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1987.

Location. 37° 10.394′ N, 121° 49.583′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Almaden. Marker can be reached from Almaden Road. The Hacienda Mining Display is a short walk on the Deep Gulch Trail from the Almaden Quicksilver County Park parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Jose CA 95120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mancha “Little Trammer” Battery Locomotive (here, next to this marker); Mine Air Compressors (here, next to this marker); Skip Loader (a few steps from this marker); Gould Rotary Furnace and Condensing System (a few steps from this marker); D Retort and Condensing System (a few steps from this marker); Shaker-Concentrator (a few steps from this marker); Mercury Storage Vault

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 15, 2012

2. Mine Ventilation Fans Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Hoeing Table and Cleaning Tank (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

Additional keywords. machinery

A Mine Ventilation Fan image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 15, 2012

3. A Mine Ventilation Fan

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 644 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on July 27, 2022, by Michael F. Cox of New Almaden, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 19, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.