[Central Maine Power footage] Reel 1 Acccession 0700

Datecirca 1945

AbstractFootage of construction crew and supervisors building a wood stave penstock at a power station. A penstock is a sluice or gate or intake structure that controls water flow, or an enclosed pipe that delivers water to hydraulic turbines and sewerage systems. It is a term that has been inherited from the technology of wooden watermills. Penstocks for hydroelectric installations are normally equipped with a gate system and a surge tank. Flow is regulated by turbine operation and is nil when turbines are not in service. The men hammer the staves into place on the open penstock which sits in wooden cradles. Metal rings hold the staves in place. Views of wooden staves along a frozen riverbank waiting to be used. A man cuts a piece of lumber on site. More views of the construction site, and a view along the length of the unfinished penstock, and concrete cradles.