Hoisting

A typical Quarry Derrick rigged to pulled blocks up an inclined plane.
Source: Rock Excavation: Methods and Cost, By Halbert P. Gillette (New York: M. C. Clark, 1904)

Booms were made of a stout pole with a secondary pole attached at the base that could be swung around and raised and lowered. It was the secondary pole that moved the stone. To pick up large blocks of stone quarriers used dog holes. Dog holes are small indentations on each end of the block. A cable with hooks at the each end of a line was placed in the holes, the cable was drawn up tight and thus was able to lift the block.

A “dog hole” at one end of a block. They are generally about 3 inches in diameter and  inch in depth. The illustration in the article below shows a typical use of a dog hole system. Two hooks on either end are placed in the dog holes and the cable is tighting by lifting it.

The Stone Quarries, Craigleith, near, Edinburgh,
from where the New Town was built.
Published Jan. 31, 1929 by Jones & Co. of the Muses. Finsbury Square London.

Source: "Modern Athens: Displayed in a series of views: or Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century....from original drawings by Mr. Thomas H Shepherd"

This is a close-up from the 1829 print above. It shows a hoisting apparatus which we have not previously seen before. It has the vertical mast of the derrick and the fixed length & fixed positioned horizontal boom of a “jib crane.” It appears to be a hybrid. The illustration shows one to two guy wires supporting each hoist. We would appreciate any information you may have on this.

The workmen are either holding crowbars or jumper drills or mix of both.

CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS...
 BY JOHN WARNER BARBER
PUBLISHED-CIRCA 1840.

Mid 19th century rock lifter