was this in a theatre by any chance? in which case I think it was a device used to propel performers through the star trap door in the stage, I know a lot of performers died this way because of continual blows to their heads as they were hurled through the trap door, the museum of london holds most records and patents pertaining to theatre inventions. regards Elaine Westaway ________________________________ From: Anne Cole <duncalf@one-name.org> To: eng-lincsgen@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, 4 February 2012, 16:43 Subject: [LIN] Mr Shelton's "up and down" machine Has anyone ever heard of this? There is nothing on google so it is probably local. It was the cause of death of someone in Grantham in 1856. Apparently he stood on a stage to turn the handle of the machine, his hand slipped and he was pitched head foremost to the ground below. The jury recommended that the a guard be put round the stage. Anne Anne Cole, President, Lincolnshire Family History Society Duncalf(e)/Duncuff/Duncuft One-name Study GOONS member 513 http://www.one-name.org/profiles/duncalf.html Lincolnshire Post 1837 Marriage Index http://mi.lincolnshiremarriages.org.uk/ Lincolnshire Family History Society http://www.lincolnshirefhs.org.uk ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-LINCSGEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message