Books
 |
Metal Detectors
 |
| Garrett GTI 2500 |
Prospecting Tools
 |
Outdoor Gear
 |
Radios
 |
GPS
 |
Power Inverters
 |
Fun Stuff
 |
Clocks
 |
The inventor of "Square Set" timbering was a man named Phillipp Deidesheimer. He was born in Germany in 1832. At the age of 19 he came to the California by way of Cape Cod. He went to work in El Dorado county, California.
In November of 1860, a Mr. Babcock an Agent of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company who was also a leading Director of the Ophir Mine of Virginia City, sent for Mr. Deidesheimer to come to San Francisco. When the two met, Mr. Babcock asked him if he knew how to work an ore vein over 65 feet in width. Mr. Deidesheimer said he did not nor had he even seen a vein of that size. When asked if he could work such a vein, he said he did not know without studying it. He was asked to come to the Ophir that very day.
He arrived in Virginia City on November 8, 1860 and began studying the problem. After a week, he began experiments and a mere 3 weeks later he was ready with his concept. Wood timbers were cut to his specifications and brought down into the mine. The building of the square sets began to take shape by February, 1861 and proved to be the best method of shoring up the mines.
All that saw it, understood its concept immediately as similar to a honey comb. Mr. Deidesheimer did not pursue a patent application which would have netted him millions of dollars and a very comfortable retirement. Instead, he chose to continue working in the mining industry doing what he loved.
References: Illustration courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress. History of Nevada (1881), Thompson and West.
