While wandering the Sydney Harbour foreshores with my new belle yesterday I found this lovely old slipway winch. No longer in use but with a pulley the other end that was most likely belted up to a steam engine. But what excited me was the timber brake pads. Makes sense in a way as they wear out and it would be easy to knock up some new ones. The rod across the top is threaded one end and I believe would have had a handle to wind the brakes up hard and visa versa.
It is a shame watching all the old historical buildings and machinery disappear in favour of capitalistic dwellings.
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Left click and then left click again to see full size. Even still has the grease pot lid on the bearing housing!