Pit Workers in the Old days #6 (1): Caulking of the Pipe Flange
1958 - 1963
Mukashi no Yamabito #6 (1): Paipu Furanji Kashime
[Pit Workers in the Old days #6 (1): Caulking of the Pipe Flange]
21.2 x 30.2 cm Ink Painting
There were various names for a repairer, such as a kikaikata (mechanic), shuzenkata (repairer), and tsuneichiban (constant day-shift worker) or konaikaji (underground smith) later. However, they were called a shuhoko (maintenance specialist), kosakufu (engineer) or kosakuka (engineering section staff) in the Taisho era (1912-1926). Therefore, they needed to be physically strong as well as able to use their heads. Repairers in the past busied themselves, working much harder than today because they had to install steam pipes underground to move even only one toy-like pump, for instance, which was far more primitive than present-day machines moved entirely by electricity through copper cables.
Pipes were relayed with flange joints and repairers had to fit flanges to pipes one by one by shrink fitting before caulking them. Caulking of a pipe 4 inches or more in diameter was done by three repairers. One more worker was necessary to turn the pipe, which meant four workers in total.
The steam pipe was called a furankan and was distinguished by its external diameter, and its steel was soft and tough. Gas pipes 2 inches or less in internal diameter were used as steam pipes. However, pipes thicker than these were prone to crack lengthways. Therefore, they were mainly used for piping that did not need to endure high pressure, such as from force pumps, which did not heat up. By the way, water pipes 6 inches or more in diameter were made of cast iron and ones 8 shaku (2.4 meters) or 9 shaku (2.7 meters) long were used. They were heavy but durable and imperishable.
Text on the Left of the Title
Gosun kara mutsuana: The flange for a pipe 5 sun or more in diameter had 6 holes.
Hassun kara yatsuana: The flange for a pipe 8 sun or more in diameter had 8 holes.
Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro
<<Last pictorial record Next pictorial record>>
<<Last 10 items 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48｜49 | 50 | Next 10 Items>>
48／306