Not just canary's Peter, any small bird, typically linnets and Budgies were also used, but only for detecting CO after a fire or explosion. No idea of dates when first introduced.
In the training officers office at my first pit was a large cage with dozens of budgies.
The flame safety lamp was the chief firedamp detector prior to electronic gas detectors.
John Waudby.
--- On Thu, 9/11/08, Peter Claughton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Peter Claughton <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Coal mines and the use of the canary
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, September 11, 2008, 2:38 PM
A correspondent has posed a question regarding the use of the canary
to detect gases in coal mines. She has seen reference to the use of
the bird to detect explosive gases but suspects, as I do, that it was
incorrect. Canaries were more likely used for detecting suffocating /
debilitating gases, eg. carbon monoxide, and the suggestion is that
they were not introduced in British mines before 1911. Can anyone
provide supporting evidence for their introduction?
Peter
______________________________________________
Dr Peter Claughton,
Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. +44 (0)1437 532578; Fax. +44 (0)1437 532921; Mobile +44 (0)7831 427599
Research Fellow - School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources
Hon. University Fellow - School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Office address - Department of Archaeology, University of Exeter,
Laver Building, North Park Road, EXETER, EX4 4QE Tel. +44 (0) 1392 263709
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list.
See http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/mining-history/ for details.
Mining History Pages - http://www.people.exeter.ac.uk/pfclaugh/mhinf/
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