ID:SLD_182_008DESCRIPTION:This stone-crusher was located in a small quarry beside the Portree to Broadford road near Corran farm, on the Isle of Skye. The quarry provided material for repairing roads.
The crusher was manufactured by W.H. Baxter Ltd. of Leeds and was probably operated by an oil engine mounted on a plinth below the machinery. This front view shows its two heavy flywheels with the drive pulley on the right. The plaque reads 'Lubricate this breaker well, Tightened bolts prevent all rapping, And ensure all parts are clean, That's the way to keep it knapping'.
Machines like this one can still be found, in varying degrees of degradation, in other parts of the Highlands and Islands.
Olivia James
The images in this collection are a selection from a set of high quality Agfachrome slides taken by Olivia James. Mrs James, a semi-professional photographer, took the photographs on visits to Skye between 1968 and 1989, using a Pentax S1A camera and CT 18 film. They record a variety of locations, people and activities which have now changed or indeed disappeared, and provide one person's view of the island through the camera lens. Born in Elderslie, Renfrewshire on 26th April 1932, Olive Grace James (née Purcell) moved to England in 1944, trained as a teacher and married Richard James in 1956. Her husband's forbears were from Skye and they began visiting on a regular basis in 1968. In addition to the slides, Mrs James has written an evocative account of her memories of places, events and people on Skye which she named 'Skye Magic', a copy of which is held at the Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre.
'Skye Magic' has been incorporated into her privately printed autobiography 'Neivie, Neivie, Nick, Nack' which she has kindly donated to various institutions including the Clan Donald Library on Skye, the Mitchell Library in Glasgow and the Weaver's Cottage, Kilbarchan.
This image may be available to purchase.
For further information about purchasing and prices please email
Skye and Lochalsh ArchivesPLACENAME:LuibDISTRICT:SkyeOLD COUNTY/PARISH:INVERNESS: StrathCREATOR (AV):Olivia JamesPERIOD:1960s; 1970sSOURCE:Skye and Lochalsh Archive CentreCOLLECTION:Olivia James CollectionAsset ID:39453KEYWORDS:
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