Francis's Shaft

Franci's Shaft is named after Roman-German Emperor Franz Joseph the Second (1792 -1806) and was sinked as large transport shaft in year 1792 in the times of great prosperity for Idrija Mercury Mine. Francis's Shaft is the Idrija Municipal Museum dislocated technical department, which presents old driving and mining machines. Many of these used to stand in Castle Gewerkenegg Idrija Municipal Museum central yard exposed to harsh weather conditions when moved out of service. Francis's Shaft and operating building above it, was due to technical heritage in it changed into museum site for old machines, were they are ppreserved in better conditions. In lower two exhibition spaces 14 machines are set up, steam, diesel and battery driven. The best what Austrian, Bohemian and Italian marks could provide in late 19th and early 20th century. Exceptional specimen of technical heritage is Kley's pump. Steam piston machine made in Bohemian Škoda - Pilsen Works in year 1893, and is the biggest preserved steam machine in Slovenia and probably in Europe. Kley's pump was pumping water out the shafts for more than 50 years, until 1948. It was extensively maintained, renovated and opened to the public again in year 2009. On the first floor of the Francis's Shaft building there are machines from mechanical workshops; forging, shaping and drilling machines of different manufacturers.

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Francis's Shaft

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