From the Argus, Friday 18 July 1879:- SAFETY MINING CAGES. The report of the board on safety mining cages was laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly fortnight The board, which has tested the following inventions Nances, Williams patent, Jackson and Middleton's patent Sesmours patent, Allans patent, and Hassan a patent, reports as follows - 1. That the preponderance of evidence given by miners and others qualified to form an opinion is strongly in favour of the adop-tion of a safety cage for general use in the mines of this colony, provided that a reliable invention can be brought forward, and its practical utility satisfactorily determined 2. That in view of the rapid increase of cage accidents, and supported by the evidence before them, the board are of opinion that some special provision should be made to check such a prolific source of danger as is shown to exist in the working of the shaft and machinery employed for winding purposes. 3. That this check could be imposed by means of such a regulation as that at present contained in the statute, i e -" Every cage used in a mine shall be fitted with special and suitable appliances to prevent its sudden fall down a shaft and also to prevent its coming into contact with the poppet heads." The board, however, consider that mine proprietors should be permitted to exercise their own discretion in the selection of safety cages, but safety hooks and balance catches must be used in connexion with every case 4. That the board have witnessed trials of all the inventions brought under their notice, and from the result of their observations the members are of opinion that the adoption of these safety appliances will afford additional security to the large section of the community engaged in mining operations.48 foolscap pages report stitched together. safety cages, safety mining cages, george collins levey, mining, mitchell and osborne's patent safety catches for mining cages, mining cages, seymour's patent safety cage, pryor's safety cage, white's safety cage, mining accidents, dyke's freehold gmc creswick, angelo mining co castlemaine, britannia qmc ballarat, alexander kennedy smith, george r. fincham, henry roberts williams, robert clark, r. richardson, allan's patent balalrat, hassan's patent daylesford, david white, charles stewart, w.h. grainger, h.b. nicholas, t. hassan, r. allan, a.k. smith, james thomson, william collard smith, j.h. seymour, john s. delbridge, william buttle, james davidson, j.p. carolin, r. clark, thomas eyre, george marshall, g. thureau, william bottoms, robert carr, j.c. march, john keam, david park, j.a. lewis, lester's hotel, ballarat, robert allan, nancarrow saftey cage, robert malachi serjeant, robert henderson, g.f. smith, r.w. newman, william benson, f. bennett, john sharp, thomas couchman, john a. wallace, john small, william h. grainger, james cowling, tools

a4 White Papermining, govenment

A lot of safety cages were developed in 1800s. Grippers on the cages acted to prevent the cages from "free fall" when the cables broke.Model of mining cage, metal construction, with safety cage not in working order.bendigo, gold mining, mining cage model

Reproduction Model Mining Cage. This item is constructed of wrought and forged flat iron. It clearly displays how the breaking mechanism of a mining cage is created so that if the tension is released from the support cables , the cage 'locks' on to the side rail (Skid). (see Research Tab)gold mining, miners' safety cage

Series of seven photographs placing the Mining Cage in Display Position at Stawell Historical Society by West Cranesmining, museum

Black and white photograph: miner wearing hard hat, overalls, with back to camera, pushing an ore truck into a mining cage.Written on back of photograph in blue pen: 'John James'.mining, 1980's., skip, bendigo, john james

A mining safety cage was used in a mine lift. It was fitted with mechanisms to prevent the cage from dropping if the lifting rope broke. In the 1870s in Victoria, deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts of gold mines were a major problem. The inventor of this safety cage was Robert Allan, a machinery maker of Creswick Rd, Ballarat. He said his cage featured a ‘dissolving’ fulcrum. Others called it an eccentric (off centre) system. Note the pair of clutch levers designed to grab the side guides if tension ceases in the suspending rope from the poppet head pulley. Also, the hinged ‘lids’; designed to protect miners trapped in a braked cage from falling rope, and to enable rescue of the miners. This model was presented to The Ballarat School of Mines Council in November 1876. This model was shown at the Smeaton Show in November 1874, Ballarat School of Mines Museum from 1876, and examined by the 1879 Victorian Board of Inquiry (Pg 15 of FedUni Catalogue 3437) From the Argus of 13 November 1874: At Smeaton Show, Robert Allan of Ballarat won 1st prize for a Model of a Mining Cage, a Butter working machine, a Cheese press and a Curd Mill. By 1878 an Allan Safety-Cage was in operation in the Number 6 shaft of the Band and Albion Consols mine in Ballarat. This cage was judged the best inspected by the Victorian Board of Inquiry by 1879, p. 39.Mining was a big industry in Ballarat in the late 1800s and a lot of deaths were recorded because of mining accidents, the development of the mining safety cage brake limited the deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts. The model also has links to the Ballarat School of Mines, being presented to the council in 1876. Ballarat School of Mines is the oldest Technical School in Australia and is a predecessor of Federation University. The model is significant to Ballarat's mining history.Model of a mine safety cafe. A grey painted wooden frame with metal model of cage and safety brake system. When tension ceases in rope a pair of crutch levers grab strongly onto the wooden guide strips which run down the sides of a vertical shaft. This safety cage was discussed in "Safety Mining Cages. Report of the Board of Enquiry on Safety Cages 1878-9; together with proceedings of the Board and Appendices".safety cage, mine cage safety brake, robert allan, model, safety cage model, machine maker, millwright, mining, gold mining, tools, equipment, victorian board of inquiry

Black and white photo taken looking up the mining cage shaft at Central Deborah Goldmine Bendigo. Timbering and shaft support visible.mining, business, central deborah gold mine

A lot of safety cages were developed in 1800s. Grippers on the cages acted to prevent the cages from "free fall" when the cables broke.Model of mining cage, metal construction, with safety cage in working order with ore truck. Made by Benedict Branch, won a medal at the Juvenile Tasmanian Industrial Exhibition (1883)bendigo, gold mining, mining cage model

Blue soft covered book.duncan gillies, mining, safety cages, timbering in mines, ballarat minin district, statistics, chinese, fossil plants, wolf's miners' safety lamp, thorneburry safety lamp, wood's point, clunes, chiltern valley, underground survey, wire ropes, ballarat, warrenheip, dowling forest

Certificate awarded to James Marshall, printed on cream paper with brown illustrations and writing. Across top are sketches of mining implements, a mining cage, a poppet head and a windlass. The certificate is mounted on to a piece of plywood. Certificate reads: "Awarded to James Marshall 'in recognition of his bravery and presence of mind exhibited by him on the seventh day of December 1886 at the mine of the Pearl Company when a fellow miner was gallantly rescued from a fearful death." "D. Gillies, Minister of Mines. Entered on roll No. 4 Department of Mines Melbourne 13th December 1886Written on the back in pen: 'Kate Marshall/Mildren - Doug Mildren's mother. James Marshall - Kate's brother.bendigo, mining, james marshall rescue, mining department, rescue

The Monument Hill Gold Mine was at the corner of Old Violet Street and Olive Street. It operated until 1947. The shaft was capped, the poppet legs and mullock removed. A house now occupies the site. The Monument Hill Gold mine depth was over 1200 ft. The donor of the photograph is the grandson of Albert Dunstan, and he recalls that 'the mine was fully operational in the 1940's and I was often able to see my Grandfather at work and watched as men stepped into cages to be lowered to their awful occupation'. Donor's great, great grandfather was John Perry Dunstan, a well respected mine manager on the Bendigo goldfield.Two black and white copies of original photograph. Image shows Albert Ernest Dunstan working in the engine room of the Monument Hill Gold Mine, Bendigo. Albert is at the controls of the engine, lowering and raising the mining cage; he is leaning on the support railing around the elevated platform he is standing on. Letter accompanying images describes the donor's family connection to John Perry Dunstan and Albert Ernest Dunstan, he writes that ' the mine was fully operational in the 1940's and I was often able to see my Grandfather at work and watched as men stepped into cages to be lowered to their awful occupation. I was very surprised that today there is a home sitting above what was once a very deep mine'.monument hill gold mine, albert dunstan, old violet street, olive street, engine room, mining cage

Model of miners' cage with safety brake system, mounted on wooden stand to simulate a mine shaft. Cage section is painted red, timber support and base aqua. Cage is suspended from wooden support by thin wire attached to top section of cage to demonstrate its position in a mineshaft and the operation of the safety brake system. Small metal crutch levers on side of cage gripping wooden guides. When tension ceases in rope a pair of crutch levers grab strongly onto the wooden guide strips which run down the sides of a vertical shaft. Safety cages were discussed in "Safety Mining Cages. Report of the Board of Enquiry on Safety Cages 1878-9; together with proceedings of the Board and Appendices". https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/papers/govpub/VPARL1879-80No31.pdfgold mines, equipment, miners

Allan Llewellyn was a well known Eaglehawk identity. See Allan Llewellyn Collection Cat. No.8389. Eleven typed pages of extracts from the 'Bendigo Advertiser' and one private letter to J.H. Seymour, contained in a manilla envelope with Mr. A. Llewellyn, 102 Victoria Street, Eaglehawk, Victoria 3556' written on front in red ink. In pencil above address: 'Please return to A. Llewellyn, Eaglehawk' Stamp, 7 cent, on top right hand corner shows Queen Elizabeth. Copies of letters published in the Bendigo Advertiser contained in envelope: 1. Letter from John H. Seymour, 25yth October, 1876, discussing the prize given to an exhibitor at the National Show, rather than the Seymour model exhibited by the writer. The writer is only a 'working miner and .. could not afford to make a full size cage'. 2. Letter from 'Fair play' 1st December 1876 regarding Seymour's model and that he should be given the opportunity to have his full size cage tested by the Judges. The cage was working at the Londonderry's Tribute Co. 3. Letter from 'unknown' regarding Nancarrow's Safety Cage, discussing Seymour's claiming 'the levers as his patent'. 4. Two letters from J.H. Seymour, regarding the unfair nature of the testing of the safety cages. Letters dated 1876. 5. Three letters from James Watson, blacksmith, Sandhurst, regarding the construction of the mining cage model exhibited by James Seymour. 6. Two letters - one from H. Banfield, Mining manager, Londonderry Tribute regarding the testing of Seymour's Patent Safety Cage design, dated October 25th. 1876. Second letter on page, regarding an accident at the South Clunes Tribute shaft, where an engineman Thomas Bonda (sometime Secretary of the Miners' Association) was injured when a cage went to the bottom of the shaft. 7. Article 'Accident at the Shenandoah Claim' detailing an accident with a mining cage when the 'rope slipped off the drum'. Article 'The Perils of Miners' detailing an accident at the Preston Hill claim, Ballarat. 8. 'Miraculour Escape' article detailing a mining cage accident at the Trio Company's shaft at Snob's Hill, September 4th. 1876. 9. 'Safety Cages', letter from Elisha Tippett, Manager Londonderry Tribute company, 7th August 1877, discussing the merits of the safety cage being used at the mine, known as 'Seymour's Patent Safety Cage' 10. 'Trial of Seymour's Patent Safety Cage' where a successful trial was held, then followed by a trial where the cage didn't perform as expected and the 'cage fell heavily to the ground'. 11. Copy of letter from Thomas Dunne, Mining Manager, to Mr. Seymour, regarding the successful operation of Seymour's Patent Safety Cage at the 'Confluenca Mine', Malmsbury on 25th August 1882. Typed across bottom of last copy of letter: 'The foregoing data supplied by Mr. Frank Fitzpatrick of Eaglehawk and retyped by A. Llewellyn. Through the lapse of time some of the words are not decipherable. In copying there could be some slight errors.' safety cages, seymour's patent safety cage, j.h. seymour, nancarrow's safety cage, bendigo, mining, allan llewellyn,

This book came into our collection via a donation to the Book Barn, which operates as a second-hand book shop. The donor is unknown.This book was published in 1887, a time of consolidation of wealth after the initial gold rushes in Ballarat in the 1850s. Its full title is 'History of Ballarat from the First Pastoral Settlement to the Present Time.' By William Bramwell Withers, Journalist. Second Edition with Plans, Ilustrations and Original Documents. It is an invaluable history of the origins of Ballarat and its mining history, with a chapter devoted to the Eureka Stockade. Book bound in green cloth on hard cover. On cover: Title incised in black on gold: HISTORY/OF/BALLARAT In gold: REVISED EDITION In black:By/W.B.Withers/PUBLISHED/BY/F.W.NIVEN &Co/Ballarat. Front cover embossed with gold pictures, one of a spray of wattle, one of a spray of eucalyptus leaves, a picture of a miner standing at a winch, and two panoramas of Ballarat, one in its early days as a gold-mining camp, and one as a built-up city. On spine: In green on gold: HISTORY/OF/BALLARAT : BY W.B.WITHERS 1887 Picture of two miners in a lift cage descending a mine shaft. On back cover: In black, picture of an aborigine looking into the sun, which is either rising or setting. On inside front cover: label pasted in. Inscription in gold: PRESENTED TO/THE/MEMBERS/OF THE/Empire Commerce Congress/BY/BALLARAT'S PIONEER DIGGER,/MR.JAMES ODDIE,1851. Front brown flyleaf partially torn off. ballarat gold rush, w.b.withers, eureka stockade, mining history, early maps of ballarat, mr james oddie, empire commerce congress

Black and white photograph mounted on brown board. Ten males in front of mine shaft. One male in divers suit. Male second from L holding small dog. Cage and poppet legs in background. Mullock heap at back. Inscriptions: Hand written on BR corner of photo 'Percival Pinder, Photo, Bendigo' Hand written on board under photo 'Tambour Major GM Coy 846 ft'. On separate card glued to bottom of mount board, printed 'Diver inspecting flooded Tambour Major Mine at Specimen Hill in 1920'. Hand written in ball point pen on back 'Tambour Major' Mine Group photo taken at Tambour Major about 1920. Dad on extreme right, Joe Sheard, Mine Manager in diving suit. A Richardson, 29 Harrison Street' Hand printed in black ink on back 'Diver inspecting flooded Tambour Major Mine in 1920'. On back - circular purple stamp 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'.Percival Pinder, Bendigomining, surface equipment, tambour major mine, bendigo, mines and mining, miners, mine, specimen hill, flooded mine, diver

Annual report of the Secretary for mines and water supply,, 1904. 122 pages.Hon. D. McLeod, MPgold mining, miners' safety cage, mines and water supply 1904, gold mining, gold mines, water supply.

Annual report of the secretary for mines and water supply, 1903. 107 pagesHon. D. McLeod, MPgold mining, miners' safety cage, mines and water supply 1903, gold mining, gold, mining, water supply

REPORT OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRARS, 31st. December 1881. 44 pagesVic. Govt.gold mining, miners' safety cage, mining surveyors and registrars rep, gold mining, bendigo, goldfields, mining surveyor, mining registrar's reports

REPORT OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRARS, 30TH. JUNE 1881. 40 pagesVic. Govt.gold mining, miners' safety cage, mining surveyors and registrars rep, bendigo, gold mining, goldfields, registrars, mining surveyors report

Reports of the mining surveyors and registrats quarter ended 30th. June 1880. 35 pagesVic. Govt.gold mining, miners' safety cage, surveyors and registrars report, bendigo, goldfields, gold mining, mining surveyors, registrars

REPORT OF THE MINING REGISTRAR AND SURVEYORS JUNE 1879gold mining, miners' safety cage, mining surveyors and registrars, gold, gold mining, mining registrars, mining surveyors

REPORT OF THE MINING REGISTRARS AND SURVEYORS REPORT - SEPT. 1878gold mining, miners' safety cage, mining registrar and surveyors repo, gold, gold mining, mining registrar, surveyors

REPORT OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRARS SEPT. 1878gold mining, miners' safety cage, registrars and surveyors report, gold, gold mining, registrars and surveyors report

REPORT OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRAR - JUNE 1878gold mining, miners' safety cage, registrars and surveyors report, gold, gold mining, registrars and surveyors report

REPORT OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRARS DEC. 1877gold mining, miners' safety cage, registrars and surveyors report, gold, gold mining, registrars report, surveyors report

Report of the mining surveyors and registrars, quarter ended 30th June 1877.gold mining, miners' safety cage, registrars and surveyors report, gold, gold mining, registrars, surveyors

REPORT OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRARS - Sept. 1876gold mining, miners' safety cage, registrars and surveyors report, gold, gold mining, registrars and surveyors report.

REPORT OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRARS JUNE 1876gold mining, miners' safety cage, registrars and surveyors report, gold, gold mining, registrars, surveyors report

REPORTS OF THE MINING SURVEYORS AND REGISTRAR - June 1873gold mining, miners' safety cage, mining surveyors and registrars rep, gold, gold mining, suvveyors and registrars