In days gone by the Cornish miner would work in pares, that is three men drilling holes in granite by hand. One would hold a large drill bit, whilst the other two would alternately swing sledgehammers at the drill ( trust or what?). After each stroke at the drill the miner holding the bit would twist it a quarter turn. After a long and hard session the hole and subsequent holes would be packed with powder, a fuse (a quill filled with powder) is lit and a little more progress made, all very dangerous and hard work. Above we see a later drill driven by compressed air made by Holman's later to be known as Comp-Air.

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