Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Breathing apparatus in two parts :- (1) - Consisting of face mask and breathing bag. (2) - Consisting of breathing bag and two black gas cylinders with two aluminium cylinders above and one brass one.

This type of apparatus was introduced into service around 1904 and used in a number of mining disasters in Europe and the USA. They were so popular that United States mine rescue workers became known as 'Draegar men'. This example appears to be the 1908/09 model and was probably used during the Senghenydd disaster as this is the design worn by rescue men during the rescue attempts. In spite of the success of the Draegar it was replaced by the British made Proto apparatus during the run up to the First World War.