[UK-CONTEST] Gin Poles and Derricks

[Bernie McIntosh (GM4WZG)]

Hi,

A gin pole is a type of derrick that operates with the pulley part fixed,
i.e. when hoisting, there is no change in position of the uppermost anchor
point.

The falling derrick operates by having the uppermost anchor point move
around the radius as it falls, thus hoisting a load into position.

For those interested in lots of wonderful Tonka Toy engineering, have a look
at the Handbook of rigging available through Google Books.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Q86UKqYui-0C&lpg=PA454&ots=qFx8PZJKno&dq=
falling%20derrick%20gin%20pole&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=falling%20derrick%20gin%20
pole&f=false

Of course, language develops according to popular usage.  If a gin pole has
been reclassified incorrectly as a falling derrick, but eventually everyone
uses it to mean a falling derrick, it eventually becomes the valid term for
a falling derrick.

So everyone gets to be right. We could do with more of that on the
reflector....

Interestingly, the Derrick is named after Godfrey Derrick, a famous London
hangman in the early 1600s, who redesigned the original gallows into
something like a crane. So a Derrick was originally used for hanging
convicted criminals - in those days, possibly for stealing the odd sheep,
but now probably best reserved for the lacksadaisical contester who allows
the team's genny to run dry.....


73 and thanks everyone for providing a good read - I don't say much, but do
lurk in dark corners reading all the posts.

Bernie
GM4WZG