Salusbury, Thomas, Mathematical collections and translations (Tome I), 1667
page |< < of 701 > >|
1Rope about the Axis of a Crane did not only hold it, that be­
ing
drawn by the immenſe force of the weight, which it held, it
ſlipt
nor ſhrunk not; but that moreover turning the Crane about,
the
ſaid Axis with the ſole touch of the Rope which begirteth it,
did
in the after-turnings, draw and raiſe up vaſt ſtones, whilſt the
ſtrength
of a little Boy ſufficed to hold and ſtay the other end of
the
ſame Cord.
The other is at a plain, but cunning, Inſtrument found
out
by a young Kinſman of mine, by which with a Cord he could
let
himſelf down from a window without much gauling the palmes
of
his hands, as to his great ſmart not long before he had done.
For

the
better underſtanding whereof, rake this Scheame: About ſuch
a
Cylinder of Wood as A B, two Inches
thick
, and ſix or eight Inches long, he cut a
hollow
notch ſpirally, for one turn and a
54[Figure 54]
half
and no more, and of wideneſſe fit for
the
Cord he would uſe; which he made to
enter
through the notch at the end A, and
to
come out at the other B, incircling after­
wards
the Cylinder in a barrel or ſocket of
Wood
, or rather Tin, but divided length­
waies
, and made with Claſpes or Hinges to
open
and ſhut at pleaſure: and then graſp­
ing
and holding the ſaid Barrel or Caſe with
both
his hands, the rope being made faſt
above
, he hung by his arms; and ſuch was
the
compreſſion of the Cord between the
moving
Socket and the Cylinder, that at
pleaſure
griping his hands cloſer he could
ſtay
himſelf without deſcending, and ſlacking his hold a little, he
could
let himſelf down as he pleaſed.

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