1969: BEHOLD The HYDRAULIC ROCK SPLITTER | Tomorrow’s World | Retro Tech | BBC Archive

"There isn't a concrete building in the world which I couldn't destroy, single-handed, using one of these!"
The impeccably attired Raymond Baxter demonstrates a new tool that could revolutionise the construction - and demolition - industry, the hydraulic rock splitter. How does it work?
Let's see how easily it deals with a cubic yard of concrete in the Tomorrow's World studio.
Originally broadcast 11 June, 1969.
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[@HaroldSeaman]

Groundbreaking technology

[@madm4tty]

Sidesplitting

[@Jumpmaster337]

Boom

[@robjackson9943]

And a spitfire pilot....my hero

[@Electronics-Rocks]

Raymond Baxter a legend of TV and radio. Tomorrow's world was a must see TV. I remember watching an episode about cigarette smoke damages lungs operating to remove the cancer while eating my tea. Well it was graphic enough to put me off smoking!!! 🤮

[@reecedillon5140]

My mum has one in her bedroom

[@malcolmsargeant7818]

Nice to hear Raymond after 50 years, used to love Tommorrows World

[@reecedillon5140]

My mum has one in her bedroom

[@malcolmsargeant7818]

@@reecedillon5140 what a hydraulic rock splitter or a Raymond ;-))

[@ScottishOutlaw]

When one reports on technologies of the future to the nation, one must be dressed impeccably. - imagined BBC directive circa 1960

[@jasonharding9490]

Really interesting to see this from the 1960s. He says it's not dangerous because the flow is so small, but hydraulic failures can still release a reasonable amount of energy, even though hydraulic oil being a liquid is nominally non compressible, there will be some amount of stretch in the pressure hose that will contribute to this. Another risk is a hydraulic oil leak forming a jet, like from a pinhole, I have been a hydraulic systems engineer for 24 years and I have only ever seen one so they are quite rare but very dangerous, they will easily penetrate through leather gloves, any PPE of that sort and quite often in reported cases go through people's hands and unfortunately commonly used hydraulic mineral oil causes all sorts of problems if it gets into your deep tissues (hydraulic engineer yes, I'm definitely not a doctor). Handheld tools like those firefighters use, or bolt tensioning devices are often made to work at high pressures (as is the case with this rock splitter), so they are smaller and more easily handled but the high operating pressure makes it more likely to have one of these high pressure jet leaks.

[@ltipst2962]

amazing. I am truly gutted I was not born in this era spending time with gentleman and amazing ladies. Ah drat. Instead I will pass on this awesome small tidbit of knowledge of awesomeness to each poor sod I ever meet.

[@LanceReardon]

THINGS RAYMOND BAXTER MIGHT SAY WHEN DOING LOVE-MAKING "I am now taking the pressure back off the tool and with a bit of luck I'll be able to withdraw it without collapsing the whole issue." "There we go. Come on out my beauty... I'll pull it out that way and now we'll be able to see how that miracle was achieved!" "But in fact, the tool itself is quite simple and it embodies a very well-known principle; that of using an enormous hydraulic force in a very short stroke to create these immense energies..." "In fact, that's not nearly as dangerous as it sounds because this is only a quarter inch bore and of course there's virtually no flow so even if this did pop off, uh... it wouldn't present you with a lethal hazard." "Now as you can see, I'm withdrawing the central wedge so the 'chisel' is returning to its minimum size..." "There he comes now! Look, running in three directions; there, there and vertically downwards..." "Now if I retract the central wedge, to reduce the size of the probe, I will then be able to withdraw it and by popping it into the other hole..."

[@gmf121266]

Absoulutely filthy....but hilarious.

[@magnusmcgee993]

Raymond Baxter great presenter. Can't get over one change with time. Not the Black & White footage but NO safety harness!

[@depniff]

A great presenter. You really feel he knows what he's talking about compared to some who just read the autocue and have no idea what it all means.

[@mavcek]

Looks impressive in 2023 actually!!

[@tasercs]

As long as you have a tie on and a handkerchief in your top pocket, there will be no need for any safety goggles etc. when 2 tonnes of the toughest concrete get flung into your face at 7000lbs /sq inch. Now you have to wear eye protection, gloves and a reflective jacket, just to tap a cable clip in. I think yesterday's world may have been more fun.

[@sarahlouise7163]

tv back then seemed much less dumbed down than today's offerings

[@jasonayres]

So, in regards to an earlier video, of a bloke who walked around parks and lake sides with a metal detector, I naively commented about him looking "overdressed" with a jacket and tie, and I was reminded that lots of blokes, in the day, in different trades, wore a jacket and tie. Alright, fair enough...but, you have to admit, *this* time, the gentleman in the above video, *does* look a bit overdressed for the job, doesn't he? Uncle Herb, a concreter (-and hence, demolisher of old concrete things-) used to smash paths, fences- all manner of concrete obstacles- with a steel bar.. about 6ft. long. My goodness, they were built of "sterner stuff", those old blokes.

[@ell311]

The job is TV presenter, not concrete smasher

[@ell311]

I did at least expect a scruffy bloke in overalls to run in when he started struggling with it though 😂

[@jasonayres]

@@ell311 At least put on some gloves 😄 "No ordinary powder will get those stains out."

[@emgee44]

I’ve got B&W pictures of my dad, on a beach in Cornwall I think, in a long sleeve shirt (sleeves rolled up) and tie, slacks and shoes. Them were the days and them were the fashions.

[@simonengland6448]

I'm in my late 50's and a beneficiary of enlightened 70's progressive 'education'. We were taught that being respectable was uptight and repressed. Now I know different. The older generations knew a thing or two. I now dress conservatively and get treated much differently than when I was scruffy in jeans and a t-shirt.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

wow 50yrs ago we had ufo hydraulic technology! 🐱👍🏿

[@princeindrajitlawlaha7027]

Nice machine ! 💝 💯 👏 🎉 🎃 🙏 🚀 👍 🤖 🎅 ✝ 🎄 🌝 !

[@simmadpaul2880]

Hard hat, goggles, gloves! Hi viz jacket. Where are they Ray?

[@garryleeks4848]

Didn’t need them then

[@succulent951]

boots with steel toe caps would've been a good idea though!

[@thewkovacs316]

as the hydraulic jack had been around for decades, what is so special about this?

[@ifax1245]

Or just give the job to Fred Dibnah...

[@JohnMartin-ux2rm]

Unfortunatley someone like the excellent Raymond Baxter would never be seen on BBC today !!!

[@TheDanEdwards]

Why do you say that?

[@JohnMartin-ux2rm]

@@TheDanEdwards Just turn on the tele !

[@stepheng8779]

​@@JohnMartin-ux2rm oh give it a rest

[@brandywell44]

Great tv show was this and the Presenters were respected. It did go downhill after the seventies sadly. Will we ever see the like again? I doubt it under current regimes.

[@niceone688]

No ppe

[@Beehashe]

Chip off the old block!

[@jasonayres]

👏😁Cracking!

[@reecedillon5140]

My mum has one in her bedroom

[@Happyal-qt3xs]

In a suit?? XD

[@reecedillon5140]

My mum has one in her bedroom

[@MrShotlighter]

Just hydraulic plug & feathers, which work fine with a hammer as power. Why bother?

[@philiplimerick2794]

While dismantling a 100 year old concrete buffer stop at Putney Bridge railway station. the modern equivalent tool was unable to break the concrete. It broke the tool. A lot of scratched heads trying to figure out what made it so strong. I never found out the answer....

[@fidelcatsro6948]

when did it happen?

[@philiplimerick2794]

@@fidelcatsro6948 About 2018/19

[@fidelcatsro6948]

@@philiplimerick2794 Wow quality of materials mustve been good back then

[@philiplimerick2794]

@@fidelcatsro6948 I was driving the train taking away waste. Several holes were drilled and a hydraulic splitter was used, it did not work. Then a breaker attachment on a digger was used. The guys doing the work were getting a bit stressed. Eventually when enough holes were drilled the concrete did break. But also the huge bolts holding the hydraulic buffer stop were about 750mm long. Everything was so over engineered.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

@@philiplimerick2794 things get cheaped out ,quality goes down as we age...the relentless pursuit of making things cost effective and maximizing profits 🐱👍🏿

[@markiliff]

Live TV was so much more exciting! But pounds, inches… all gobbledegook now

[@stepheng8779]

To you maybe