Crank machine

The crank machine was a device which turned a crank by hand which in turn forced four large cups or ladles through sand inside a drum, doing nothing useful. The crank machine is a historical form of penal labour used in England. The prisoner would typically be forced to do 6000-1000 revolutions over the period of six hours, and the warden could make the task harder by tightening an adjusting screw, hence the slang term "screw" for prison warden. The crank machine is no longer in use; in 1895 there were 29 crank machines in use, but by 1901 there were only 5.[1]

The television show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt features a crank machine.[2]

See also

Penal treadwheel

References

  1. ↑ Britannica editors (1926). Britannica on the treadmill. 13th edition: Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. ↑ Bradley, Laura (2016-04-11). "How Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt's Production Designers Dreamed Up That Apocalyptic Bunker". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
Bibliography
  • "Inveraray Jail and County Court, Life in Jail". 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  • "Prison Treadmills". No tech. Low-tech magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2016.


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