Coal Pits in the Old Days: Intermediate Support Units (Repair Work)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yama: Ma-waku (Shikuri Sagyo)
[Coal Pits in the Old Days: Intermediate Support Units (Repair Work)]
21.1 x 30.4 cm Ink Painting

Text on the Right Side
Since neighboring two support units were linked with lagging 6 shaku (1.8 m) long, the distance between the two units was about 5 shaku (1.5 m). The lagging would often break or sag down, or the support unit beams would crack because of rock pressure. Therefore, repairers inserted additional support units between the defective ones. Such intermediate support units were called ma-wakus, and repairers contracted to insert them at about 50 sen per unit. Thin straight mine timber was used for that purpose. This painting shows this work in K Coal Pit in the late-Meiji era (1868-1912).
As a rule, long mine timber had to be shortened by cutting off the thinner ends, but pit workers (yamabito) made it a rule to cut off the thicker ends to save themselves some work.

Description of the Inset
Some repairers sometimes stood the pillars of additional support units without digging holes (waku-gama) for inserting the feet of the pillars. Such support units were called ningyo-wakus. These support units did not bear great rock pressure very well. They were defective and were used by insincere repairers.

Lettering in the Inset
ningyo-waku: support unit with unhitched pillars

Tattoo on the Repairer's Right Arm
dairiki: great power

Lyrics of "Gotton Bushi" Song at the Top Right
Yucha suman ga uchi kaka tegiki.
Yagu ya futon no maruarai. Gotton!

I can't help telling you that my wife is good at everything.
She washes bedclothes and futons just as they are. Gotton (Clang)! (Interjected chant)


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

<<Last pictorial record    Next pictorial record>>

<<Last 10 items  31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36｜37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |   Next 10 Items>>

36／306