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A pulley and a rope create a simple machine for lifting or pulling heavy materials. A single pulley allows force to be applied from any direction, but if two or more pulleys are used in conjunction to create a block and tackle, greater mechanical advantage is created, allowing one person to do the work of many. This single pulley was hand-made by a local craftsman using hand tools and was likely used on a local farm. Using a pulley for lifting and moving material was universal on farms and in factories through the early 1900s and is still used today on some farms.

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