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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Silver Star in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
 

Rope Drive Compressor Wheels

From the Leonard Mine, Meaderville-Butte, Montana

 
 
Rope Drive Compressor Wheels Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016
1. Rope Drive Compressor Wheels Marker
Inscription.
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 1980’s

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

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(approx. 6.7 miles away); The Jefferson Valley (approx. 6.7 miles away); A New World: Tertiary Mammals (approx. 10.1 miles away); The Trail of Lewis & Clark (approx. 10.2 miles away); Road Agent Trail (approx. 10.2 miles away); Sacajawea, "Pomp" and Seaman (approx. 10.3 miles away); Jefferson River - Beaverhead River (approx. 10.3 miles away).
 
More about this marker. Marker is a large painted wooden panel, mounted at eye-level on heavy-duty wooden posts.
 
Rope Drive Compressor Wheels Marker (<i>wide view; giant compressor wheels in background</i>) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016
2. Rope Drive Compressor Wheels Marker (wide view; giant compressor wheels in background)
Rope Drive Compressor Wheels (<i>located near marker</i>) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2016
3. Rope Drive Compressor Wheels (located near marker)
 
 
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.

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Mar. 28, 2024