PortlandJib

A windlass is a simple “machine” that employs mechanical advantage to lift heavy objects,

You can see the wire that’s wrapped around the barrel.

The 2 guys turn the cranks (which are attached to the barrel) and the wire is

wound round the barrel and they can lift the load.

\

Archimedes is credited with inventing the windlass. He used it to pull a newly built ship from the land into the water.

It might have looked like the windlass above. Instead of 2 cranks, there’s a large wheel which is connected to the barrel. He probably had a couple of slaves inside the wheel walking to turn the wheel and thereby drag the ship to the water.

So instead of couple of cranks, (not the guys) a wheel would work.

Archimedes had a famous line: “Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth.

As Mateo rotates the bar (the 2×4) the line wraps up around the barrel (the cardboard tube) and the load is lifted.