This is a rope making machine of a type that was somewhat common in the 19th Century.
The gears can either be 24teeth and 6 pegs or 40 teeth and 10 pegs. Either way you get 1:4 ratio of twists.
You can see in this picture the cross arm need not be straight nor do the 2 hooks need to be exactly opposite. Nor do the three hooks need to be exactly spaced at 120° from each other, they could be but it’s not important.
What Is important is the spacing between the centers of the outer gears and the center of the main gear.
I have here drawn 24 to 6 , the smaller teeth of a 40 to 10 may run smoother.
I have not yet made this machine:
Most of the structure should be a softer wood like: Pine, Poplar, Bass, Cottonwood.
The main gear can be made of segments or made from a slab of the same softer wood, with teeth made from some very hard wood, like: White Oak, Live Oak, Lignum vitae.
the main gear is drawn @ 1 1/2″ thick, the teeth are drawn 1″ thick.
I have drawn the small gears as 2 soft wood discs, 6 hard wood pegs, and a center 1″ hard wood shaft.
the center shafts of all the small gears need to have a hole bored through end to end, to accommodate the metal hook. OR make them 1″ too long and the hook can be made from a piece of pipe that only fits on the end of the center shafts.
in use any wax or grease could be used to help it run smoothly, I prefer a 1:1 mix of mineral oil and bees wax. Any paste wax would work, or even bacon grease (very traditional)…
be well
Karl
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