Repair Men, Constant First-shift Laborers, or Underground Smiths at the Pit in the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), and Showa (1926-1989) Eras, Revisited
June 1965
Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Saiki Shuzenkata/Kikaikata, Tsuneichiban, Konai Kaji
[Repair Men, Constant First-shift Laborers, or Underground Smiths at the Pit in the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), and Showa (1926-1989) Eras, Revisited]
38.0 x 53.9 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink
The shuzenkata/kikaikata (repair man) was also called a tsuneichiban (constant first-shift laborer) or konai kaji (underground smith). He was called a shuhoko at some pits. The atoyama (helper) of a shuzenkata was called a mochikata.
They were in charge of the piping for drainage in the pit. However, smiths sometimes helped them in emergencies.
(Pipes)
Flanged pipes were grouped according to their external diameters. Flanges were caulked to pipes after being fitted to them by shrink fitting. They were mainly used for steam pipes.
Gas pipes were grouped according to their internal diameters. Most of their joints were screw-type. They were connected to each other with couplings or flanges.
Flanges no larger than 4 inches (about 10 cm) in diameter had 4 bolt holes. Flanges 5 inches (12.7 cm) or larger in diameter had 6 bolt holes, and ones 8 inches (about 20 cm) or larger in diameter had 8 bolt holes. Flanges 6 inches or larger in diameter were combined with 3/4" (20 mm) bolts. Flanges no larger than 5 inches in diameter were combined with 5/8" (16 mm) bolts. When fixing flanges 5 inches or larger in diameter to pipes by caulking, three repair men did the job. They hit the joint between the flange and the pipe with hammers, making loud ding-dong sounds. Caulking was incomplete if the neck of the flanged pipe did not swell more than their heads.
At Nittetsu Inatsuki Coal Pit, flanges were fixed to pipes by caulking with a pneumatic riveting machine moved by air.
Words in the Inset on the Right
furankan: flanged pipe
kashime: caulked
gasukan: gas pipe
nejikomi: screw-type
Words in the Inset on the Left
Furanji ana wa gusu de aru: Flanges had an even number of holes.
ken: a flange which is set so that a pair of antipodal holes in it align vertically
taira: a flange which is set so that a pair of antipodal holes in it align horizontally
Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro
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