Hand Pump in the Middle and the Latter Half of the Meiji Era (1868-1912)
1964 - 1967

Meiji Chu-koki Handoru Pompu
[Hand Pump in the Middle and the Latter Half of the Meiji Era (1868-1912)]
38.0 x 54.2 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

This painting shows a hand pump moved by, so to speak, human engines. It had a water suction cylinder with a roller valve 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. Even strong pump men could not continue moving this pump for a long time. Water sometimes sprung more rapidly than they could drain away. Drainage from slopes in the past was difficult for every pit because they had to lay steam pipelines to use steam pumps. Additionally, all pits did not have hand pumps. This shown pump was used at K coal pit. Water was not pumped up if the pump men's strokes became too slow.
Their loincloths were soaked with such a lot of sweat that they had to wring them. Their strength was soon spent and they got hollows under their eyes.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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