Lee
Are you talking Surface pictures or underground?
Underground in explosive atmospheres with flash powder was not general a
good idea (presumably that is why there were few pictures - unless that
explains why there were so few company photographers!!!)
J C Burrow (Camborne Cornwall)took lots of underground pictures - not sure
how many were commissioned or just for his benefit (used in exhibitions etc)
He work with Herbert Hughes (Dudley) who was also engineerand mine owner as
well as interested in photography - A set of his pictures (Lye cross
colliery) was reprinted as postcards during the miners strick - Not sure
where the glass plates went.
Burrow and Hughes took colliery pictures in South Glos coalmines (1905) -
again not sure if commisiioned - but a set of pictues of Coalpit Heath did
find it's way to the Bristol Record Office via one of the managers
descendents. Burrow was commissioned to take pictures for a governemnt
report on the condition of the slate mines in North Wales
Dickie Bird sent me details of pictures by Brindley in the Sheffield
City Libraries (which to my shame I haven't followed up yet) - again whether
they were for the company I do not know.
The Shire Abume 82 "The Collier" by A R Griffin includes several pictures
which are a series of pictures issued by the Clay Cross Company (Derbyshire)
In more recent times I know the NCB occasionally commisioned pictures - The
late John Cornwells South Wales Books include pictures he took for his own
interest and (I believe) some he was commissioned to take by the NCB. I
also recently saw a very interesting set of pictures (1950s) taken in North
Wales for use in Health & Safety publications (There was also had a film
crew making safety film)
Still looking for Burrow photos - recently had a suggestion some may be in
the "museum at Wigan pier" anyone know any more
Regards
David Hardwick
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
SUBSCRIBE mining-history Lee Lamble
Sent: 31 March 2006 12:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MINING-HISTORY] Company Camera Men
I don't know about company photographers but even without them, there should
be a lot more photographs around than there seems to be (good or bad). In my
area of interest (geographically) - the Tamar Valley it seems inconceivable
that the excitement and (admittedly short lived) prosperity bought to the
area by the mines seems to have gone largely un-photographed, particularly
given the abundance of images of other areas and activities during the
period of serious mining activity in the Tamar Valley - Towns, Railways,
Boats, Dartmoor etc.
There are photographs of course, but not nearly enough.
I do wonder whether at some point in the past these 'missing' photos have
been 'collected'. Perhaps they might surface one day, perhaps they are lost
forever, or perhaps they were never photographed (my least favourite
theory).
What does anyone else think?
Lee
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