Early Tools
Rail Horse
The Rail Horse enabled miners to rapidly descend to their homes from mines located high up the mountain. Found only in Marion County TN. This unique model of transport might be called a suicide slide….per illustration.
Thanks to the Coal Miners Museum in Whitwell TN for this rare piece of Our Story.
Scooter
This week THE OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM shares a glimpse of conditions in the early mines. This scooter from a southern West Virginia mine is one of few surviving—(who wanted to keep such a torture device?) would rest on a single rail rail and allow for “easy” transport underground in low coal. Some seams as low as 22 inches!
No wonder miners wanted a Union when they crawled to work but the bosses could ride!! Well, maybe miners made a few of these for their own bit of luxury. Stay safe and keep your head down.
Tortoise Shell Hard Hats
This week the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM presents a pair of early tortoise shell hard hats. Artifacts are not merely old stuff. They tell stories if we listen. The smaller one would fit a boy(child labor?) while the larger one is man size—maybe. Even the large one is far too small for me. Admittedly, folks oft say I have a big head but perhaps the story here is that we have gotten bigger in the last 100 years.
Dinner Buckets
This week the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM shares these pics of a common dinner bucket —or not so common. The much dented bottom puts to rest the thought that this Bucket spent its days resting in the dinner hole. This week the artifact is the handle. Why so damaged?
The chap who used this bucket worked low coal. Very low. He crawled to work. How else to carry your dinner but in your teeth? This tattered old bucket tells a story of why we needed a Union. Workers organize to improve wages, hours, and conditions. This artifact offers a small window into conditions in early mines in southern West Virginia
Boss Hammer
This implement measures just 14” long. Similar to some made by the Boss Hammer Company. I’ve heard them called bossin’ hammers–perhaps used by the boss?
Note the metal end of the handle. A solid end to test top?
Stickin' Tommy
This forge-welded Stickin’ Tommy provided light for miners before teapot lights or the ultra modern carbide lights. Back in the day they were just a tool but today I use this as a heuristic device to aid in the teaching of Our Story. The hook is for wicks of spare candles, not as support when in use.
Squibs
Squibs, squib boxes, and a box of “new” squibs are this week’s artifact of the week from the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM. These offer a bit of insight into earlyish mine technology. Prior to the time of wires running from a blasting machine–think box with a plunger–miners would remove squibs from the round wooden (no sparks!) box and place in a hole prepared with powder. Long story made short: light the paper tail with flame from your carbide light on your cap, run around nearest corner, wait for it! Impatient miners who took a premature peek risked death or at the least wearing a coal tattoo.
Full disclosure: I had to know. These li’l puppies shot about 30 feet off of the deck. Just “tested” one. Rest are in the museum!
Be sure to support Union miners and all Union members.
Blasting Machine
Imagine using one of these to set off an explosion 
For extra credit: Anyone else out there in this age of cyberspace remember shooting on the solid??? Tell us about it! Now that was scary stuff for a mere red hat!
The OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM is dedicated to teaching the uncensored history of Union miners. We are determined to give youngsters a glimpse of why such folks—and their descendants—are tough as nails.
Betty Lamp
The OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM is pleased to share this hand-forged Betty Lamp as our artifact of the week. Shown here with a common teapot lamp and one of my favorite pens for scale. Teapots predate the iconic carbide lights—Bettys were even earlier. A piece of wick would rest in the top bowl (bottom bowl catches spills) and hang down a bit. Fill with whale oil or bacon grease in a pinch. The spear secures the lamp in the coal seam or a wooden beam.
We share this early lamp to offer a glimpse into early mine conditions. Our Union is all about wages, hours and conditions. Little doubt conditions left room for improvement….
Bath House Pulley
A bit of Covid fatigue here so this week’s artifact of the week is last week’s too. A rope or chain would attach to the loop and stretch to a pulley at the bath house ceiling. Hang yer wet and dirty mine clothes up where the air is warm and (maybe) you will have dry duds to start tomorrow’s shift. Not clean but maybe dry. The soap went in the basket that has small drain holes in the bottom.
Safety Lamps
This week the artifact of the week is this pair of flame safety lamps that replaced the canaries in the coal mines. Birds saved a lot of lives with their sacrifices but the time came to set them free. Perhaps next the miners can retire in the sun…..
Note the lamp with the mirror. Best test the air down low before kneeling— or crawling. Flame gets bright and tall? METHANE! Flame out? NO OXYGEN. Either situation can spell an early demise. The lamp on the right was just a presentation model. A later design sans mirror, the working models of this lamp were aluminum and would likely open with a small magnet rather than a key. Only the lamp man was permitted these special magnet/keys. Seems miners (never Union miners!!) were prone to accessing flame to light cigarettes!!!!
Magnet
This week’s artifact is a small red magnet (pen for scale). A rare artifact as few at the mine were permitted to have them and those who did oft kept them for a handy addition to personal tool boxes.
These were viewed as a “mixed blessing“ by early miners. What stories have you got regarding their use as a safety device? What behavior by miners was this magnet designed to prevent?
Canary Cage
A miner’s best friend lived in this small cage and all too often died to save a life–if the bird dies, your shift is over. Get out!
In today’s world, we have canaries all around us. Perhaps a good time to take note of their health.
Anemometer
This week the artifact of the week from the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM is this old but still functioning anemometer. A simple tool. Could have saved countless lives at Farmington, UBB, and …..
Murder is murder. Nuff said. Be safe.
Miner & Mule
BLACK LIVES MATTER? This photo was restored and provided to the OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM by George Bragg. Look closely. The black miner (some say we are all black when we get out of that d—— hole) is wearing a cloth hat. The mule has a hard hat. Company can always hire another miner but must buy mules.
Article II of our Union’s constitution: Objects: First: To unite in one organization, regardless of creed, color or nationality, all workmen eligible for membership… The UMWA started early in opposing divide and conquer tactics. We are all in this fight together.
First Aid Packet
The OUR STORY TRAVELING MUSEUM strives to be “fair and balanced”—this week our artifact of the week is this example of the first aid packet provided to miners in case of injury. The U. S. silver dollar (not scrip) is shown for size perspective.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words……
Scatter Tags
This collection of scatter tags is from Elwood Maples so once again a big shout out!
These were literally scattered on top of coal cars full of coal so buyers would know what mine provided their coal. A combo of advertising and quality checking. Not all coal is the same.
Back in the late ‘70s the miners of UMWA Local 1555 were put on the street for producing low quality coal. Seems there was too much rock in the coal. Wonder why the tipple operator was told to put 1/3 rock in the “coal pile”? Maybe the operator wanted rid of the Union? Know this for a fact. I was a Union miner running that tipple and following the dictates of management. More than one way to get rid of a pesky Union.