Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Continuous miner in operation at Cwmgwili anthracite drift mine. National Coal Board stamp on reverse.

The 'continuous miner' machine was used for the driving of exploratory headings and driveages to form new districts in unexploited areas of coal. It was capable of undercutting, overcutting, side cutting and loading the excavated material into a convenient belt or chain conveyor for removal to the surface. Some of the cutting teeth are seen in the bottom left corner. The entire machine moved on caterpillar tracks, one of which can be seen on the bottom right of the photograph.The ribbed canvas pipe suspended from the roof supports provided the air supply. Being a 'blind heading' (one way in and out only) the air supply is carried in a ribbed canvas pipe (bag) suspended from the roof supports, the heading itself acting as the return airway.