Hulett Iron Ore Unloader

Hulett Iron Ore Unloader (Hulett Eisenerzentladekran) aus Märklin Metallbaukasten
Messe Faszination Modellbau, Sinsheim 2009

[@chuckeberth4370]

One of the most fascinating pieces of machinery ever made. To see it operate in scale is even better.

[@markschweter6371]

Just ran across operational videos of the Cleveland ones... Didn't know the operator rode up/down just above the clamshell scoops.

[@ScumfuckMcDoucheface]

@@markschweter6371 isn't that just too freakin' cool? I guess it would really help with field of view eh haha what a job that would have been

[@HighlanderNorth1]

🤔 You mean ^this isn't full scale? I thought it looked a bit small, but I just chalked that up to the cargo ships on the great lakes being MUCH smaller than ocean-going ships.... 😁

[@adamseidel8901]

I think this will go down as one of the coolest industrial inventions ever to be made.

[@TheEsseboy]

Naaah, that price goes to Jetturbines or Computer chips.

[@Baribrotzer]

@@TheEsseboy Adam S. probably means Industrial Revolution: Old-school mechanical stuff like this, which could have run on steam even though it didn't directly.

[@TheEsseboy]

@@Baribrotzer Booring, it will just be a side note.

[@rogerb5615]

I've seen the real things in operation on Lake Erie ore docks. This model appears very accurate and skillfully made.

[@mikekmit6045]

I worked on them, at Republic Steel from 1978-1984, and this VERY accurate.

[@6996brandyl]

@@mikekmit6045 My grandfather work at Republic Steel in Youngstown

[@mikekmit6045]

@@6996brandyl I was in Cleveland.

[@ThisIsGoogle]

Thanks expert

[@jannejohansson3383]

I want see model nails in same scale ;) Nice thing, sadly they doesn't want to dirty it.. some "ore" would be nice to claw.

[@gilzor9376]

It really is great to know there are people like yourself Georg. This is not only a great display of your incredible talent, but it is the next best thing to the preservation of history ie: the birth of the industrial age. Ever since high school years personally reading about Henry Fords Rouge Plant, I've admired what George Hulett did for improving this task, lowering the cost of emptying a ship by over 75%. It is nice to know that, despite the last ones finally gone, the Cleveland Port Authority saved 2 of them for future assembly and display. Thank you for sharing.

[@42lookc]

What an incredible build! Besides building skills, this guy must read blueprints very well.

[@pables64]

My father was a merchant Marine shipping taconite and when I was 15 I got to take a trip with him I was so lucky to get to see the hewlets in action before the self unloaders took over thanks for posting

[@roberttuss5349]

I got to see them in Cleveland when they were being decommissioned. There was one still standing. It was trying to be preserved, but I'm quite sure the effort failed. The model here is fantastic.

[@gilzor9376]

there gone, but they saved 2 and stored them away

[@Danny_Boel]

the trouble is that they're made out of steel and that ultimately turns in to rust...

[@jaysontadlock1871]

That steel will last a very long time if painted and looked after

[@Danny_Boel]

@@jaysontadlock1871 true but that costs money, and it's no Golden Gate Bridge nor an Eiffel Tower. It was a tool that outlived its usefulness

[@JerMannski]

Each Hulett (always installed in batteries of 2 or 4), was 90 feet tall and weighed around 880 tons. The Huletts on Cleveland's C&P Ore Docks could move 17 tons of ore in one bite.

[@jaysontadlock1871]

There is one example of a single hulit that worked solo in NYC unloading garbage barges.

[@123TeeMee]

That's like 3 elephants

[@3markaw]

@@jaysontadlock1871 Any idea of where in NYC it was located ?

[@mikedelaney6585]

C&O Toledo had three.

[@mikedelaney6585]

Conneaut had 5.

[@ronnieg6358]

What a brilliant Mecano model! Accurate in every detail. Just the thing to preserve the memory of these impressive machines.

[@raykudlak4713]

Saw in action in Cleveland in late 1940's / early 1950's. (Thanks, Dad!). You are a skilled modeller and this Hulett is exceptional! Ray

[@melvinmulder7750]

Ever since I learned about the Hulett unloaders, I’ve wanted to see a working model. This guy built one out of an erector set! Fantastic!

[@normpowell3566]

Thanks for building a scale model of a piece of history

[@SteamCrane]

I've been around Huletts in real life. He got a lot of details correct that Walthers didn't. Wonderful model.

[@ErieRadio]

The car underneath that dropped the material into rail cars or into a storage pile behind the machine was called a “Larry car”… the operator of that was called a “Larry man”. 3 people worked the machine… the Hulett operator sitting immediately above the bucket or scoop… the Larry man and the oiler who would keep the machine greased and oiled.

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Hulett Ore Unloader, " A work of mechanical Art ". Thanks for sharing.

[@oni101]

Best use of an Erector Set EVER!

[@AdventureDriver]

That is brilliant. The time, the effort, the expertise, beautiful.

[@ovalwingnut]

Fantastic! just watched a "history of this Hulett". Really amazing. A SpaceX or their time. Wonderful model. Thank you!

[@haroldalexis4200]

That's fantastic! That model is the next and practically identical & 💯realstic. Wish I had one on the layout. Wonderful & excellent craftsmanship. 👍✅

[@CTK1201]

That model is Fantastic! The Operator did a Wonderful job on the controls.

[@RR1976]

I would love to see more people talking about and exploring that machine, the most beautiful thing ever created from metal at that time.

[@brsrc759]

That is just so cool! If they can't exist in full scale, at least there's an RC version still 🤙

[@KevTheBusDriver]

This is an impressive model of a really massive bit of kit - well done!

[@chuckeberth4370]

Looks fantastic and works just as well.

[@godbluffvdgg]

Ladies and Gentlemen. THAT is what obsession looks like!...Amazing model and as beautiful in action as the big boys...:)

[@peteacher52]

Up to about the mid-60s, boys would vie with each other in contest for the best Meccano set - Xmas and b-day presents were often a supplementary piece for the set, if lucky, the coveted clockwork motor! It was well engineered, often being passed by fathers to sons and grandsons. Then the Chinese got hold of it and you could only buy specific sets to make a particular model; childhood imagination was booted out - until Leggo arrived.

[@chessiesystemrailfanman3741]

Xmas??? Don't take the Christ out of Christmas!!

[@Baribrotzer]

This is beautiful, and it looks like it was done with some sort of Meccano set. One thing that amazed me about the full-sized version: See that little window just above the main grab? THAT's where the primary operator's cab is, way out at the end! There seemed to be a secondary operator, too, controlling the release that loads the hopper cars. A triumph of 19th Century engineering!

[@beeble2003]

Yes, two "drivers" -- one just above the bucket and one for the release into the hoppers. Plus a couple of other operators, who I think were keeping all the motors and so on working smoothly.

[@bigredc222]

With all the ore dust getting into everything, they must have been a maintenance nightmare keeping them running, and that dust couldn't have been to good for operators' lungs.

[@tpep1693]

That's pretty impressive !

[@Alex_Eicher]

A genius video from George Eggman...

[@christophercharles9645]

It's really cool - it looks like it's made mainly from Erector Set-style materials. Nice job!

[@modelsof1900]

Eine absolut gigantische Maschine im Original. Und ein phantastischer Modellbau! Und ausgerechnet 2009 war ich nicht auf der Messe. Glückwunsch zu dieser feinen Arbeit! Schau auch dieses Video "Hulett ore unloader"

[@johnm9941]

That is so cool! I believe the Hulets were last used in Ohio in 1990 and then they we're all dismantled. Truly awesome old school behemoths from a bygone age. I could watch them for hours.

[@gilzor9376]

South Chicago used 2 of them for coal till 2002, took them out 2010

[@beeble2003]

It was a bit later than 1990 in Ohio. I think it was actually 1998, but don't take that as gospel.

[@Gunz911]

Excellent job fantastic model very cool

[@LeeKresser]

Love this realistic model!!!

[@fxsrider]

Now we just need a train with glasses ready for that to crush ice and drop some into each glass.

[@ShakepearesDaughter]

Thank you. Great model. I love it.

[@markhill2279]

Great job on that!…an early forerunner of robotics!!

[@djhaloeight]

Absolutely amazing! What an awesome machine! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@tommccafferty5591]

My dad was a Larry Car Operator. (The car underneath that dropped the ore into the train cars.)

[@ErieRadio]

Which port did your dad work in? My uncle was a Hulett operator at Conneaut.

[@tommccafferty5591]

@@ErieRadio He worked on the A&B Dock in Ashtabula.

[@rogerhaag9069]

AMAZING!!! I saw a documentary about these!!

[@ljts7587]

Now that’s skill. Amazing machine to replicate too. Well done Sir.

[@sheep1ewe]

Amazing! I realy love Meccano too!

[@olduhfguy]

A fascinating relic of our industrial might,

[@haydenjones1559]

Much cheaper and way faster to use a rotating ore reclaimer and a shoot load out. Can fill 140t into a wagon in under 10 sec.

[@RHJ3]

Best Hulett Model Ever! I need one for my model Railroad!

[@ajb07]

Walthers make an HO version of the Hulett Unloader - see product no 933-2966 on the Walthers website. You can also download the instructions, which give an idea as to the complexity of the model

[@bcferriesman1438]

it would have been really cool if he made it able to pick up stuff like sand or something and dump it into model train cars

[@kelleysimonds5945]

Gorgeous model, fantastic!

[@jagc1969]

Unbelievable!! A real masterpiece !! It would be great to watch it directly. Is there any change to get the blueprints for a Hulett Unloader? I would like to build one in H0 scale. There is no way to get the Walthers' kit.

[@woxof46]

Sadly enough this little model is going to be the largest existing Hulett unloader left, Cleveland plans to scrap the last two within a few months

[@htc6600]

Magnificent!

[@stranraerwal]

incredible! Chapeau!

[@philipbrutz2175]

Excellent work

[@moosesnWoop]

Very cool model! The actual unloaders are rusting away on the ground right now..

[@solo2r]

incredible !

[@JerMannski]

This is a very well done model... The detail in the movement of each part featured is very accurate to how the actual Huletts operated. The speed is perfect, too. I am amazed at the detail that includes the hopper in the gantry that weighs the ore. Can someone tell me the name of the model-maker, and where the model is located now? Check out the "Hulett Iron Ore Unloaders" on Facebook.

[@roberthoury4034]

Very nice, thank you!

[@ProfessorIgor]

is there a single Hullett still standing anywhere on the planet ? The Whiskey Island Hulletts are laying in a pile.

[@ChefKevinRiese]

Awesome toy!

[@budlistar5312]

I understand that the operator sat in the little window above the bucket, is that right? I know there were more than just him but, dang. I bet he hated to ride in an elevator when he wasn’t working.

[@arnoldmayii3563]

Wow, thats pretty cool!

[@krisnajdala6512]

this is incredible

[@kevsbuild2807]

I assume this was made from Meccano, (vid quality too poor to tell once digitised) as such it is wonderful, I'd love to see a HD version of it.

[@williamschlenger1518]

Amazing machines but where did you find a Hulett?

[@williamjackson5767]

Love it really great for what it is

[@jsallscales7856]

That is incredible. I need at least 6😂

[@douglashurd8652]

Ruff and tuff industrial bliss and noise .

[@justtim9767]

I love it, great job. Is this kit model, or did you build it from scratch?

[@johnfellows2867]

Looks like it was built from mostly Meccano.

[@cleenrockdog6797]

With a little help from the hand of god the ore loader got down to business

[@vishalkrishan8988]

wow simply wow

[@robertbate5790]

Incredible 👍👍👍🇬🇧

[@dresdoholic]

2021 youtube algorythm brought me here

[@cavemanballistics6338]

I have never seen one that was painted Green?

[@PortCharmers]

Great work what scale is that in? just to get an idea of the size of these machines.

[@dd313car]

It's scale 1 : 32

[@the_retag]

The rails give you a good hint at the size

[@tracynation2820]

Super. 💙 T.E.N.

[@tracynation239]

Excellent video. ♡ T.E.N.

[@kevindownie8102]

a great model I are going to try and make this but I would to know where to get plans from

[@nfk2590]

In 2008 I bought detailed H0 scale (1:87) drawings from Mr. Michael L. Rabitt, Wayne, PA. This drawings enabled me to understand the hidden construction and function of the ore hoppers. I learned the very special kinematics of the bucket which is doen't simply open the shells but shifts one of them to get an eccentric pick up area from a German technical book about cranes. You can find the editet drawing on my site: metallbaukasten-nkl.magix.net/alle-alben/!/oa/6036912-111458386/

[@kevindownie8102]

@@nfk2590 do you know where can buy ho scale 1.87 drawings from

[@nfk2590]

You can find Mr. Rabbitt's address on: daveayers.com/Modeling/Steel_Huletts.htm He sells more than 20 drawings sets from steel industry plants (steelmills, blast furnaces, coke plants etc.). Drawing set #5: HULETT ORE UNLOADERS: Plans, elevations, sections, details and several design variations of a “classic” Hulett Unloader of the early 20th century. Includes elevations of ore bridges and a section through a lake front blast furnace plant. Five sheets, 2' x 3', H0 scale.

[@kevindownie8102]

can any body tell where ican buy 24 wheels for the hullet crane

[@vosifle]

Super!

[@killerkane1957]

Very well done!!

[@cosprint]

WOW just WOW.

[@jeroendesterke9739]

I'd LOVE to know what electric motors he's used?

[@nfk2590]

The motors are small industrial 24 VDC gear motors from Buehler or Maxon.

[@DiggerEvans]

Splendid

[@jasonw4932]

All that detail...and he has to nudge it with his finger to get going...

[@wkruit]

Even the transformer is Märklin!

[@daidhippie]

Merkur ;-)) Top toy

[@willie92441]

Do Marklin makes this model of the Hulett Iron Ore Unloader ?

[@digimaks]

Walthers cornerstone does.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@digimaks this is made from Meccano. Like an erector set but 100 times better.

[@raysaikus2173]

Our organization is and has been championing the preservation of the last two Huletts and that are resting taken apart on Whiskey Island in Cleveland Ohio www.citizensvision.org

[@RR1976]

Did they use any of these Hulet's over it Europe?

[@nfk2590]

No, because Huletts need a costal environment without tides.

[@davidtempleton2622]

Just a minute now. If a Hulett was used to unload garbage barges in the New York City area, then it would have to have been able to deal with some tides unless the unloading took place in a basin in which the water level was controlled by dam(s) and lock(s). New York Harbor, and the connected waters including the Hudson River as far North as roughly Troy, are tidal. Admittedly, barges are relatively shallow from rail to the bottom of the cargo space and the normal variations in the vertical distance between the rails on which the unloaders translate parallel to the long axis of the barges and either of the above elevations on the barges probably presented minimal challenges to the applications engineer who designed the installation. In comparison, consider: . The water level at the shoreline of North America's Great Lakes can vary by several feet, although not as frequently or predictably as in tidal waters. . The vertical distance from the rails on which the whole Hulett translates along the dock to either the rail or the bottom of the cargo holds of a bulk carrying "lake boat" can change by tens of feet as the cargo is removed, although the maximum downward reach required of the bucket is somewhat lessened because the whole boat rises as cargo is removed. The Hulett is not required to be able to reach the bottom of a full hold. Oddly, within the last 36 hours I watched video of an operation in a UK harbor in which coal was being unloaded from an ocean-going bulk carrier (Think: ocean-going 1000-footer -300+ meters long- with beefier hull, slightly more freeboard, an ocean going bow and no self unloading gear.) Unloading the ship, and reportedly destined to join the Huletts on the rust pile when the UK stops importing coal to feed power plants in a couple of years were several cranes which resembled none in common use today so much as they did those commonly used today to handle internodal shipping containers between ships and land. With such a machine as a starting point, keep the squat tower that translates parallel to the long axis of the ship; also keep the horizontal boom that projects both seaward and landward from this tower, complete with the hinges and bracing that allow the seaward end of the boom to be raised so as to clear the superstructures of ships docking or undocking. Likewise keep the trolley that travels along the boom with its collection of winches and brakes and operator station positioned on the landward end of the trolley so the seated operator can view the load suspended from the winch cables more or less between hir toes. (Work in progress; more content to follow.)

[@TheGryxter]

Kinda looks like it was made from the toy I had as a kid...Erector Set.

[@brianstratton8767]

Yeah, does look similar except for green paint. I had remnants of an Erector set; made & ran the car but didn't have enough stuff for Ferris wheel. Oh well..

[@BaronvonBavert]

super, wahsinn

[@gunsaway1]

Wow!

[@dsc0273]

Man they must use small ships these days.

[@menguardingtheirownwallets6791]

I still think that a long vertical chain of buckets (each bucket attached to a large chain), emptying into a conveyor-belt at the top end, would have been better, faster, and more efficient than these rather 'slow' Hulett unloaders. It is possible to shield the links in the chain from the effects of the iron ore dust.

[@gilzor9376]

This design still dropped the cost of unloading by 77%

[@Alex-uy7pc]

Now where's the lego one?

[@erwinlommer197]

I've always wondered why they used rigid arms for the excavator scoops instead of hanging wires? Like if you look at draglines with their boom and bucket hanging from cables you get what I mean. Of course I don't mean using draglines as is, but surely the hanging configuration with the buckets coming down vertically could work? Is it because of wind or the saltwater or something else? Maybe they didnt have strong cables back in the day or soemthing?

[@nfk2590]

Erwin, the hanging ropes were used before Mr. Hulett invented this type of Ore Unloader. With hanging ropes the bucket can only pick up the ore lying directly under an opening in the deck of the ship. In these earls days therefore a lot of men has to shovel the ore manually to the areas straight under the openings of the hold. In contrast the rigid and rotable leg with eccentric opening bucket shells covers the complete hold area. This actually is the essential feature of Mr. Hulett's invention. Please watch this video to learn about this unique machine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4Otl6GhZ7hmaZI

[@nfk2590]

More about the construction of the model: www.nzmeccano.com/image-31054

[@TheTelstar008]

Maccano..?

[@MrRichard57000]

mechano?right?

[@TheTelstar008]

@Carl Napp Thanks Carl, a great working model of the Hulett which I find fascinating to watch along with the film clips of the real machines working unloading ore from ships here on KZbin, they look like dinosaurs from another planet..! Thanks for the info as I did not know Marklin made an equivalent to meccano..! Great stuff and thanks again.

[@fafnir-fasolt]

Märklin Metallbaukasten I think, however like Meccano

[@TheTelstar008]

@@fafnir-fasolt Yes indeed, ''danke'' for your reply..!

[@JohnRinNoHo]

Men: Fantastic! Incredible! Impressive! Amazing! Wow! Splendid! Great! etc. Women : How cute!

[@livolsim]

What scale?

[@jamiesmith1881]

I believe 1/1000 th cuze real haulers were huge

[@bsmith4525]

Clearly NOT 1/1000 -- this model is at least 2 feet long, which would imply that the original was at least 2,000 feet long!

[@marcusfoshie4642]

You could get you some charcoal and grind it up and you'll be in business