Tools and Machinery of the Granite Industry, Part IV

Richard Ruemelin of the Ruemelin Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a key innovator in dust control equipment. Although there were earlier patents, Ruemelin was the first inventor and manufacturer to provide a full line of effective and reliable equipment including banker dust collectors, surfacer dust collectors, sand blast cabinets with curtains, and dust filters. This was the first time a complete dust removal system could be assembled from standard manufactured parts. Ruemelin was issued three important dust removal patents: a dust collector (filter) with multiple hanging cloth filter bags, which were periodically shaken by an electric motor to prevent the bags from clogging (1926); a dust removal device for a single stonecutter banker, which was easily positioned to the work (1933); and an adjustable dust and chip collector for pneumatic surfacing machines (1934). Although almost all granite sheds are now equipped with effective dust removal equipment, it is still necessary to educate workers about the hazards of dust, to train them for proper use of the equipment, and to keep the equipment in good working order.

Safety and Health

"Last week a stone had dropped [from the derrick chain] with the toppling crash of thunder, skidded across the floor and pinned the Spaniard Manuel against the wall with a crushed leg. Manuel's scream pierced the echoing roar of the hurtling block."12 This story was one of many reported in Men Against Granite that illustrates the perils of working in the granite industry. "I used to handle the dynamite too," one Scots-Irish derrickman remembered. "The worst one I ever saw was when they were blasting out under a ledge. The fuse was lit all right, but it took a long time to go oft". They thought it had gone dead or something. I told them not to go back under there but this fellow did, this French fellow. It went off just as he was crawling under. Jesus help me, I never want to see anything like that again! Blew him out like a cannonball. Blew the hair right oft'his head, the clothes oft" his body. Blew his eyes out, his ears oft", there were pieces of wood and stone blown right into his head and body."13

These granite worker stories from Men Against Granite leave no doubt that the quarrying and finishing of granite was an inherently dangerous occupation. Injuries to eyes were caused by flying granite and steel chips. Injuries to the ears were caused by the high noise levels of the tools and machinery. The noise often continued in their heads when they were at home and some developed tinnitus-a permanent ringing in the ears.

"Just Another Guy Working" described how the noise affected him. "The noise is the worst thing. It makes me deaf. It's a hell of a racket with the saws grinding back and forth. You know it takes an hour to saw four inches into granite. The drills are going all the time, and them big cranes are smashing overhead. You get vibration from the air-pressure machines. Jack hammers sound like machine guns. At quitting when the noise stops your head feels funny inside, the ringing stays in your ears, but you get used to it."14