That was common in machine shops, farming and pretty much any industry that had belts running everywhere. My mom worked in Greenfield Village here in Dearborn Mi., It was created by Henry Ford. He had restored buildings and showed how early America was built. Thomas Edison and many more are displayed here. It had a running machine shop with a steam engine that ran all the equipment with belts that ran from the ceiling pulleys and shafts to the machines. A worker giving a demonstration got caught in the belt. Sadly, he did not make it. Mr Mikey.