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Dear David, The dealers then would be today's equivalent of brokers and stockholders (middlemen in brief) - they would forward buy and/or buy as their market/clients determined. The merchants (large & small), did indeed buy from collieries if they were nearby or if away from the collieries (and substantial enough), they would still deal direct. Smaller 'away' merchants would deal with the brokers/stockholders. I know very little about coal, but the principal of distribution remains the same as with nearly every bulk commodity. Hope this of some use. Regards, Bernard