Mining Items

Section of Haulage Rail. This is a small section of a bridge rail for the colliery haulage transportation system. Made of iron. Size 7″ long x 1 1/2″ high x 3″ inches wide. The lengths of rail (typically around 10′ feet long) were butted together and were then attached to wooden sleepers by the use of dog nails. The bridge …

Section of Haulage Rail. This is a small section of a flange rail for the colliery haulage transportation system. Made of iron. Size 7″ long x 2″ high x 2″ inches wide. The lengths of rail (typically around 10′ feet long) were held together with a pair of fish plates and four dome-head rail bolts. The rails were then attached …

Miners Self Rescuers. These rescuers were only effective against smoke and carbon monoxide in cases of fires underground. They would NOT protect you against mine gases such as methane etc. The self rescuers came in two sizes, the smaller of the two was the first issue, (late 1960’s to the late 1970’s) it would give you approximately 1 hour protection …

Miners Self Rescuer – Small. This self rescuer MSA W265 is of a slightly different design with a more angular top casing used in Germany and other European countries.made by MSAs partner, Auer in Berlin. Never used generally in the UK. Size 4″ x 3″ x 2 1/2″inches. These rescuers were only effective against smoke and carbon monoxide in cases …

Miners Self Rescuer – Small. This self rescuer MSA W265 was the first design. These rescuers were only effective against smoke and carbon monoxide in cases of fires underground. They would NOT protect you against mine gases such as methane etc. Size 4″ x 3″ x 2 1/2″ inches. The self rescuers came in 2 sizes, the smaller of the …

Miners Self Rescuer – Large. This self rescuer MSA W65 was the second design. These rescuers were only effective against smoke and carbon monoxide in cases of fires underground. They would NOT protect you against mine gases such as methane etc. The self rescuers came in 2 sizes, the smaller of the two was the first issue, (late 1960’s to …

Mining Industry Telephone. A mining industry telephone, a common type used underground at all collieries. Made by the A. T. & E. Co Ltd of Liverpool. Size 10″ x 16″ x 6″ inches.

Air Sampling Pump and Sampling Cylinders. Made from steel, brass and rubber. Size pump 14″ inches (closed), 20″ inches (extended). Cylinders 9″ x 1″ inches. The air sampling pump was used to take air-samples for testing. The cylinders would push and screw into the pump on a bayonet style fitting and the pump would work like a bicycle pump action …

Pit Head Baths – P.H.B. Soap Box. A pithead baths – P.H.B. soap box. This box still has some of the original inner dividers. The box held seventy-two bars of soap (as seen left) unwrapped. Made from cardboard. Size 12″ x 10″ x 8″ inches. The National Coal Board supplied the bars of Colgate Palmolive Soap to the colliery canteens …

A Leather Miners Hat. Made of thick leather. Size 12″ x 10″ x 5″ inches. This type of hat was used in the coalmines in the Belgian and French coalfields in the early to mid 1800’s.