Metal to be tested was put into a vice in the main part of the machine, and, depending on how the equipment was set up that day, a hydraulic ram applied pressure to stretch, compress, shear or twist the metal until it broke. The small wheel next to the ladder controlled the hydraulics, and the pressure applied was read off the steelyard next to the control. Mr Monkey didn't have any bits of metal he needed breaking, which was probably just as well.
Copyright Rik Shepherd and Mr Monkey. This page last modified 19 February 2005