People at Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days #16 (Manual Device for Sending Signals to the Winding Machine Operator)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi Yama no Hitobito #16 (Shudo Makiage Shingo)
[People at Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days #16 (Manual Device for Sending Signals to the Winding Machine Operator)]
20.6 x 29.1 cm Ink Painting

Signals from the pit bottom to the surface were sent through the signal wire pulled by human power at that time when no electric bell or buzzer was available. The iron hammer installed in the head frame on the surface would not move if the transport man or mine car driver (saodori) did not use all of his weight and might. A number eight wire or a thin zinc rope later was used for the signal wire he pulled. Handles for pulling signal wires were installed in the ends of slopes or at relay stations in long slopes.
The hammering signals mainly used were as follows:

"Make," "Rise," "Up" or "Go ahead": two times
"Sase," or "Down": three times
"O-rai" or "Stop": one time

Other signals such as "Go ahead slowly" and "Down slowly" or signals showing each level were simply and clearly decided by each coal pit. Each of the middle-scale coal pits had a special transport man called a kataban saodori responsible for the allotment of mine cars at each level.

Words Written on the Right Side of the Inset Showing the Hammer
Kattan! Kotton!: Onomatopoeias to show hammering sounds;
Clang! Knock!

Lyrics of "Gotton Bushi" Song
Hane wa nai kedo saodori san yo.
Maite, saite, o-rai surya tema ga son.
Dokkoi! Dokkoi!

Though you don't have wings, you are called saodori san as if you were a bird.
It's only a waste of time and energy for you to raise, lower, and stop mine cars.
Dokkoi! Dokkoi! (Interjected chants)

[Translator's Notes: The word "saodori" was composed of "sao (pole)" and "tori (operator)," and "tori" changed to "dori" when it was combined with the former. Another meaning of "tori" is "bird."]


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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