Rope Drive Compressor Wheels
From the Leonard Mine, Meaderville-Butte, Montana
Big Wheels
About 22 ft. dia.
About 20 tons each
22 grooves for 1-1/2 inch rope
About ½ mile of rope on each wheel
Originally installed about 1903
Operated until about 1964
Erected here in the 1980s
These compressors ran 24 hours a day, making compressed air, which was piped to the mines on the Butte Hill to operate drills underground and to power hoists (originally run by steam).
Several other mines had similar compressor plants – all are gone today.
Lloyd Harkins saved these wheels and many other Butte historic artifacts from being scrapped when underground mining shut down.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 45° 41.332′ N, 112° 17.011′ W. Marker is in Silver Star, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on State Highway 41 north of Ridge Road, on the left when traveling north. Marker is mounted directly in front of a giant compressor wheel on exhibit beside the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Silver Star MT 59751, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sheave Wheels from the Speculator Mine (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis & Clark Camped Here
More about this marker. Marker is a large painted wooden panel, mounted at eye-level on heavy-duty wooden posts.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 537 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 8, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on January 9, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.