Out Of The Blue Artifacts A Library of a lifetime of collecting
A Cromwell Shaftman’s Pit Sinkers Helmet.
This is a Cromwell pit sinkers or shaftman’s helmet with a small peak and a large neck protector. This helmet was found by John Munn in the old roadways connecting the Six Bells Colliery to the Vivian Colliery, Abertillery.
Made from highly compressed pulp cardboard with a leather sweatband and cotton webbing interior.
Size 9 – The helmet is 5″ inches high, 9″ inches wide and 14″ inches in length. The neck protector is 11″ inches wide by 4″ inches long, attached to the helmet with a double row of copper rivets.
The cap-lamp holder bracket is riveted to the front of the helmet.
John Munn.
This helmet was kindly given to me by John Munn of Abertillery. In April 1982, John was working below ground at the Six Bells Colliery, Abertillery, with overman/deputy Don Davies. They walked underground from the Six Bells No.4 workings up the old roadways to the long closed Vivian Colliery that had been connected to Six Bells Colliery, this is where John found the helmet, in one of the roadways.