Hi All,
Jockey caps (my father used to call them) were still being used
in 1963, were you could buy them at the Army & Navy stores. (I think they
were import from Germany). They had a plate, attach with four riverts at
each corner to take the head lamp. Miners had nothing at all against the
safety helmet, it was issued free, the only problem being its height!
working in a low hand filled coal seams, some times as low as 3 to 4ft down
to 20 inches high the helmet could add 3 inches or more to its height. When
you reflect back skids were being taken off 15 inch Samsom cuttering
machines. Colliers even paid timber lads to cut there props in the gate to
as near the size required and send them down the belt with the miners names
in chalk written on them. Miners went down the pit wearing the safety helmet
(the banks man ensured this) but on arrivel at the coal face took it off
(and put on the jockey cap which was stuffed inside their jackets along side
snap tin and water bottle) On the point of Hi-Viz lamps (spotlamps) they had
a dip switch and were issued be underground managers, deputies, electricans,
fitters and surveyors and were only to be used for close inspection work
only. A flash in the face from one of these lamps took your vision away,
very dangerous when working on moving machines. The Davy lamps at that time
were of different MKs, and were carried by miners, men working in drifts and
cuttings all over the pit to take recordings of gas levels (they were paid
for this task) they were strung along the face at intervels.
Regards
Barry
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Vickers" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 1:38 PM
Subject: Re: Head Protection in UK Mines.
