CORNISH-L Archives

From: Tony Brooks <>
Subject: Re: Tin Framers
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1989 15:32:03 -0000

Martin

I suspect that this could refer to a worker using a hand-tipped frame.for
the recovery fairly fine tin working in a mine's mill. The material was
settled in a pit and then spread over the top of a gently inclined wooden
surface or frame. This was washed gently and the heavy tin settled on the
surface whilst the lighter waste washed away. After a while the frame was
manually tilted and the tin rich "concentrate washed of into a box. This
concentrate might be re-treated more than once to give a saleable
concentrate.

Alternatively this could refers to a worker involved in the recovery of very
fine tin, either at the end of a mine's tin mill or, more likely, someone
working in a tin stream works recovering the fine tin discarded further
up-stream by the mines.

The basic principle of the system depends upon running a thin film of the
tin rich slime (possibly carrying 0.5% tin ) down a gently sloping wooden
deck or frame. Because of its high specific gravity of the tin and the fact
that it is of a smaller physical size, the tin preferentially tends to
settle on the deck, the water and the solids now carrying a little less tin
then runs off at the end. After a period of time the frame is washed with a
stream of water and the "concentrate" is deflected into a pit or a
collection launder and the process then starts all over again.

Automatic versions of this are the "Round Frame" which survived into the
late 1960's and the "Rag", "Rack" or "Ragger" Frame the last of which
probably disappeared around 1945.

Working examples of these, plus Californisn stamps and all the other
equipment of a circa 1910 tin mill, can be seen at King Edward Mine, Troon,
Cornwall.

I can show these to anyone who is interested.

Regards

Tony
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Tony Brooks
Polstrong Cottage, Polstrong, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 0QA
Tel - (0)1209 713506

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• Re: Tin Framers by Tony Brooks <>