A rocker shovel loader was the 1st device able to replace human labor in picking up and disposing of tunnel blast material.


The Bingham Canyon Mine, or Kennecott Copper Mine, is one of the worlds largest copper mines, and the second highest copper producer in the USA. At 2 and 3/4 miles across and 3/4 miles deep, it is enormous and impressive, producing hundreds of millions of tons of copper yearly, as well as substantial amounts of other products such as gold and silver. No other single private sector operation has generated more production, exports, income, and employment for as many years in Utah. Here, a rocker shovel loader, made by a Salt Lake City, Utah company, EIMCO, in the late 1930's, was the first device that was able to replace human labor in picking up and disposing of tunnel blast material. It worked via compressed air. You can see the valves, hoses, etc. on the lower left, enabling it to work via air compression and pressure. 29,000 of these were sold throughout the world.


Size: 2400px × 3567px
Location: Bingham Canyon Mine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Photo credit: © Steve Ohlsen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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