Wells which had ceased to flow of their own accord could be pumped to provide more oil. The energy for this pumping was often supplied by a steam engine, but having an engine on every well was not feasible. To solve this problem J. H. Fairbank developed the jerker-line system whereby the power from one engine could be used to pump many wells. Fairbank described the invention to the Royal Commission on the Mineral Resources of Ontario:
I remember the time the first jerker was put in operation... I had a well too hard to work by manpower; I hadn't an engine, but there was engine power within reach and I applied the present jerker system I think that was in 1863. The majority of the wells were then worked by manpower with a spring pole. The jerker is universal now, and it would be impossible to work on the old system.
As many as ninety wells could be pumped by one engine The engine powered a large wheel. Extending from the axle of this wheel, a network of connecting rods travelled across the field. The rods were supported by a number of posts. They can be seen in this photograph. The to and fro movement of the rods caused a "walking beam" to move up and down, providing the valve action which enabled oil to be pumped up from below the surface.
