APPARATUS, BREATHING
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact13140
- Other Name
- SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS / AIR MASK AND HARNESS
- Date Range From
- 1975
- Date Range To
- 2000
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- PLASTIC, METAL, COTTON
- Catalogue Number
- P20150010017
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS / AIR MASK AND HARNESS
- Date Range From
- 1975
- Date Range To
- 2000
- Materials
- PLASTIC, METAL, COTTON
- No. Pieces
- 5
- Height
- 29.2
- Length
- 68.8
- Width
- 50.7
- Description
- SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS, INCLUDES CASE, HARNESS ASSEMBLY, MASK WITH STRAP, AND PAPER PASS CERTIFICATE. .A: CASE. BLACK MOULDED, TEXTURED PLASTIC CASE. ROUGHLY RECTANGULAR SHAPED. HINGED AT THE BACK, CASE HAS THREE HANDLES ON THE FRONT: ONE IS IN THE CENTRE OF THE CASE, WITH THE OTHER TWO ARE ON THE CORNERS OF THE BOX. THERE ARE TWO PLASTIC LATCHES BETWEEN THE THREE HANDLES. BLACK AND SILVER COLOURED STICKER ON THE TOP OF THE BOX READS: "MSA AIRMASK". A SECOND BLACK AND SILVER STICKER, ABOVE ONE OF THE LATCHES, READS: "ULTRALITE PRESSURE DEMAND" AND ALSO HAS "PASS IN BOX" HANDWRITTEN IN BLACKMARKER. A THIRD BLACK AND SILVER STICKER THAT READS "MSA AIRMASK" IS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX. YELLOW PIECE OF DUCT TAPE ON RIGHT SIDE, HANDWRITTEN IN BLACK INK: "ULTRALITE BMR". INSIDE THE BOX IS SUBDIVIDED INTO COMPARTMENTS. AFFIXED TO THE INSIDE TOP OF THE LID IS A PAGE OF INSTRUCTIONS TITLED "MSA AIR MASK, PRESSURE DEMAND TYPE". A SMALL PIECE OF PAPER AFIXED TO THE INSIDE OF THE LID IS TITLED "PACKING ARRANGEMENT" AND HAS AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOW THE UNIT SHOULD BE PACKED AWAY. DIMENSIONS PROVIDED ABOVE CORRESPOND TO THIS CASE. OVERALL IN FAIR TO GOOD CONDITION. THE TWO "MSA AIRMASK" STICKERS HAVE PARTIALLY PEELED AWAY, WITH THE TOP STICKER MISSING THE BOTTOM OF "ASK" IN "MASK" AND WITH THE BOTTOM STICKER MISSING PARTS OF THE "MSA": THE "M" AND "A" ARE PARTIALLY MISSING, WHILE THE "S" IS ENTIRELY GONE; "MASK" OF THIS STICKER IS ALSO VERY DAMAGED. LATCH BELOW THE "ULTRALITE" STICKER IS IN GOOD CONDITION, WHILE THE OTHER IS PARTIALLY BROKEN. SEVERAL SCUFFS AND SCRATCHES IN THE PLASTIC, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE BOTTOM. .B: HARNESS ASSEMBLY. BLACK PLASTIC, METAL, AND FABRIC WITH SILVER COLOURED METAL. OUTER PORTION OF HARNESS DESIGNED TO HOLD BOTTLE OF COMPRESSED AIR. BLACK METAL BRACKET RUNS VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN THE HARNESS AND HAS A SILVER COLOURED CIRCULAR METAL BAND TO HOLD TANK IN PLACE. THE SILVER BAND IS 7.7CM WIDE AND HAS TWO BLACK STICKERS WITH “MSA” IN YELLOW STUCK ON. BOTTOM OF BLACK METAL BRACKET HAS A TRIANGULAR SHAPED PIECE, WITH A ROUND RUBBER TIP, TO HOLD THE BOTTOM OF THE AIR TANK IN PLACE. BELOW SILVER BAND IS A STICKER, WITH A DISCOLOURED WHITE BACKGROUND AND BLACK LETTERS GIVING INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE, ENTITLED: “CUSTOM 4500/ULTRALITE BELT MOUNTED SCBA. OPEN CIRCUIT, PRESSURE-DEMAND ENTRY AND ESCAPE SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS OR COMBINATION SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND TYPE C SUPPLIED AIR RESPIRATOR.” SILVER BAND FOR TANK HAS A HANDLE THAT EXPANDS AND CONTRACTS THE BAND, TO ALLOW FOR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF AIR TANK. AT THE TOP OF THE BLACK METAL BRACKET, THERE IS A CIRCULAR SECTION WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF TWO BLACK PADDED FABRIC SHOULDER STRAPS. THESE STRAPS ARE BOLTED ON WITH BLACK AND SILVER COLOURED BOLTS. BLACK METAL BRACKET ATTACHES AT WAIST AREA TO BLACK MOULDED PIECE OF PLASTIC. BLACK MOULDED PLASTIC FITS AROUND THE HIP AREA OF THE WEARER. SHOULDER STRAPS COME DOWN FROM TOP OF METAL BRACKET AND ATTACH TO THIS BLACK PLASTIC JUST ABOVE THE HIP. SHOULDER STRAPS ARE PADDED AND HAVE A SECOND SMALLER STRAP, WHICH WOULD CROSS THE WEARER’S CHEST WITH A BLACK SIDE RELEASE PLASTIC BUCKLE, WITH THE FEMALE COMPONENT ON THE RIGHT STRAP. ON EACH STRAP BELOW THE PLASTIC BUCKLE IS A SILVER COLOURED “D” RING. ABOVE THE BUCKLE ON EACH STRAP IS A SILVER COLOURED SILK SCREEN SECTION WITH “MSA”. AT THE BOTTOM WAIST PORTION OF THE MOULDED PLASTIC IS ANOTHER BLACK FABRIC STRAP, TO GO AROUND THE WEARER’S WAIST. THE BELT ATTACHES WITH A SILVER COLOURED METAL LATCH PLATE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH FITS INTO A BLACK PLASTIC BUCKLE, WITH A BLACK PLASTIC BUTTON TO RELASE, ON THE WEARER’S LEFT SIDE. ATTACHED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BELT IS A PRESSURE REGULATOR AND HIGH PRESSURE SUPPLY HOSE. THE PRESSURE REGULATOR CONSISTS OF BLACK METAL AND PLASTIC, AND GOLD AND RED COLOURED METAL. A CIRCULAR GOLD COLOURED METAL PIECE HAS REMNANTS OF TWO STICKERS ON ITS FACE: “MSA AIR MASK – MFD BY MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY – PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – PRESSURE DEMAND.” BELOW IT IS A HOSE COUPLING. THIS COUPLING HAS A BLACK RUBBER CAP, EMBOSSED WITH “FHR”. BESIDE THIS IS AN AIR PRESSURE GAUGE: BLACK METAL TEXTURED EDGE, GLASS FACE, AND RUBBER ENCASING. THE FACE OF THE GAUGE IS OFF-WHITE WITH A DIAL INCREASING IN INCREMENTS OF 5 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30), WITH A RED SECTION FROM 0-5, A YELLOW SECTION BETWEEN 20 AND 25, AND A GREY SECTION AT 30. BELOW THE DIAL IS “PSI X 100 – USE NO OIL – MSA 18” BESIDE THE GAUGE IS A RED COLOURED METAL KNOB, WITH “ß OPEN – BY PASS” EMBOSSED ON FRONT FACE. BESIDE THIS RED KNOB IS A GOLD COLOURED KNOB WITH A SILVER COLOURED TAB “^PUSH^”. ON THE FACE OF THE GOLD KNOB, EMBOSSED, IS “MAIN LINE ^” WITH “MSA” IN CENTRE. OPPOSITIE THE PRESSURE GAUGE IS A HIGH PRESSURE SUPPLY HOSE. THE HOSE IS BLACK PLASTIC AND FABRIC. ON THE END OF THIS HOSE IS A SILVER COLOURED BELL, USED AS A LOW AIR ALARM. AT THE VERY END OF THE HOSE IS A BLACK TEXTURED METAL COUPLING. .C: MASK WITH HOSE. BLACK PLASTIC RESPIRATOR MASK WITH CLEAR PLASTIC VISOR. FITTED NOSE PIECE WITH TWO SMALL CIRCLES ON EITHER SIDE OF BRIDGE OF NOSE PIECE. EACH CIRCLE HAS BLACK PLASTIC SPOKES AND A TRANSPARENT FLAP, WHICH IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE NOSE PIECE. HANDWRITTEN IN GOLD COLOURED INK, ON THE INSIDE OF NOSE PIECE, “G29C” OR “929C”. FRONT OF NOSE PIECE, VISIBLE THROUGH THE VISOR, HAS “MEDIUM” EMBOSSED ONTO MASK. FIVE BLACK PLASTIC STRAPS WITH SILVER COLOURED BUCKLES ALLOW MASK TO BE SECURELY TIGHTENED ONTO THE HEAD. STRAPS MEET AT A ROUGHLY STAR-SHAPED PIECE THAT SITS AT THE BACK OF THE HEAD. THIS STAR-SHAPED PIECE HAS THE FOLLOWING EMBOSSED ONTO THE PLASTIC: “M2 C5 – MSA – PULL FRONT STRAP LAST – U”. ABOVE THE “M2 C5” IS AN EMBOSSED MULTI-SPOKED CIRCLE. EMBOSSED IN THE CENTRE OF THE CIRCLE: “93 – 94 – 95” EACH OF THE FIVE STRAPS ARE LABELLED; TWO AT THE BASE OF MASK, EACH LABELLED “NECK”, NEXT TWO UP ARE “SIDE”, AND THE FIFTH STRAP AT THE TOP OF THE MASK IS “FRONT”. ON FRONT OF MASK, AT THE MOUTH AREA, IS A LONG ACCORDION-STYLE HOSE. IT IS ATTACHED TO THE MASK WITH A SILVER COLOURED METAL CLAMP. ON THE NUT OF THIS CLAMP IS WRITTEN “ALL STAINLESS BREEZE”. BELOW IS A BLACK METAL BAND, WHICH IS STAMPED IN YELLOW WITH “-18 TINNERMAN”. BELOW THAT THERE IS A SILVER COLOURED METAL RING, WHICH HAS A BLACK FABRIC STRAP ATTACHED (SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION OF THIS ITEM, P20150010017D). THE BOTTOM OF THE HOSE HAS A BLACK METAL BAND AND THEN A SILVER COLOURED, TEXTURED METAL PIECE TO CONNECT TO THE AIR SUPPLY CANISTER. BELOW THE HOSE CONNECTION, AT THE CHIN AREA OF THE MASK, IS A MEDIUM-LIGHT GREY CIRCLE, EMBOSSED WITH “MSA – U.S. PAT. 4,007,758”. TO THE RIGHT OF THE HOSE ATTACHEMENT HANDWRITTEN IN GREEN INK IS “#4”. ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MASK, BETWEEN THE “NECK” AND “SIDE” STRAPS IS A FAINT STAMP IN YELLOW “7-212-“. EMBOSSED IN CENTRE OF MASK, ABOVE FACE VISOR, IS “MSA” IN A CIRCLE. INSIDE OF THE HOSE ATTACHMENT, BELOW THE MOULDED NOSE AREA, IS A BLACK DISK WITH HOLES IN IT. VISIBLE THROUGH THESE HOLES IS A PIECE OF GOLD-COLOURED METAL. DIMENSIONS OF MASK: HOSE IS 83.5CM LONG; VISOR IS 18CM WIDE. .D: STRAP ON MASK. BLACK FABRIC STRAP, WITH TWO BLACK SNAPS. SNAPS ONTO SILVER-COLOURED METAL RING AROUND THE HOSE. STRAP IS 92.5CM LONG AND 1.9CM WIDE. OVERALL CONDITION OF B, C, D: WELL WORN. ALL STICKERS SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR: DISCOLOURATION AND FINISH OF STICKERS SCRATCHED. STRUCTRUALLY IN GOOD CONDITION. MANY SCUFFS AND SCRATCHES ALL OVER. ALL FABRIC IN GOOD CONDITION. RUBBER RETAINS FLEXIBILITY AND PLASTICS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH NO CRACKS. .E: PAPER PASS CERTIFICATE. GOLDENROD COLOURED PAPER. READS: "MSA - ULTRALITE DP - B.M.R. C/W FACEMASK. THIS UNIT TESTED AND HAD ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE ON SEPTEMBER 02, 2008. KEN HOBIAK" (WITH KEN'S SIGNATURE ABOVE HIS TYPED NAME). REVERSE OF PAPER: "THIS UNI PERFORM KEN H" (APPEARS TO HAVE MISPRINTED ON THIS SIDE). PAPER IS STANDARD LETTER SIZE. CONDITION IS GOOD: PAPER HAS BEEN CRUMBLED AND HAS A FEW SMALL TEARS AROUND THE OUTSIDE.
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- THIS SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA) WAS USED BY THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF DONATION, JESSE KURTZ, DEPUTY CHIEF – SUPPORT SERVICES (RETIRED), EXPLAINED THAT THE MASK WAS “USED BY ALL FIREFIGHTERS TO CONNECT TO THE BELT MOUNTED REGULATOR SCBA TO ENTER HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES” AND THAT THE HARNESS WAS “USED BY ALL FIREFIGHTERS TO BREATH IN HAZARDOUS (SMOKY) ATMOSPHERES.” HE CONTINUED SAYING THAT THERE ARE “MORE MODERN MASK MOUNTED REGULATOR SCBAS [THAT HAVE BEEN] DEVELOPED AND PURCHASED.” IN THE SUMMER OF 2015, COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN KEVIN MACLEAN, CONDUCTED A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING: CLIFF “CHARLIE” BROWN (HIRED IN 1966, RETIRED 2004), TREVOR LAZENBY (HIRED IN 1994), AND LAWRENCE DZUREN (HIRED 1959, RETIRED 1992). BROWN EXPLAINED THAT THIS SCBA “WAS AN ON-DEMAND REGULATOR. THAT WAS NICE TO HAVE DEMAND, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHO IT WAS, THE HARDER YOU BREATHED, THE MORE AIR IT WOULD GIVE YOU. THE HARNESS IS PROBABLY MORE COMFORTABLE [THAN PREVIOUS ONES]. SOME GUYS WOULD USE THREE TANKS, SO THE HARNESS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THEM. THEY’D COME OUT, THEY’D TURN AROUND, THEY WOULDN’T EVEN TAKE OFF THEIR GEAR. THEY’D TURN AROUND, THERE’D BE GUYS WHO WOULD TAKE THE TANK OFF, PUT ANOTHER TANK ON, HOOK IT ALL UP, A GOOD PAT ON THE BACK, AND BACK IN THEY’D GO WITH ANOTHER TANK. THEY’D DO THAT THREE TIMES BEFORE … THEY WERE JUST TOO TIRED … WE DIDN’T HAVE AN AIR COMPRESSOR TO FILL OUR OWN TANKS. I CAN’T REMEMBER WHERE THEY WENT. THEY MUST HAVE WENT TO THE SWIMMING POOL.” LAZENBY CONTINUED SAYING THAT THIS SCBA WAS “A VERY, VERY OLDER GENERATION SCBA BOTTLE. THESE WERE KIND OF RUDIMENTARY DESIGN. THE BOTTLE WAS STEEL ON THESE, WHICH MADE THEM VERY, VERY HEAVY. MODERN BOTTLES ARE FIBERGLASS WRAPPED WHICH MAKES THEM MUCH, MUCH LIGHTER; ADDED TO WHICH, IT HAD A BARELY PADDED HARNESS SYSTEM ON IT AND BASICALLY A GLORIFIED SEATBELT STRAP FOR A WAIST STRAP. SO WITH THESE KINDS OF THINGS, YOU DON’T WANT TO KEEP A TON OF WEIGHT ON YOUR SHOULDERS BECAUSE IT FATIGUES YOUR UPPER BODY VERY, VERY QUICKLY WHEN YOU’RE WORKING. BUT WITH THIS TYPE OF HARNESS ON THEM, IF YOU CINCHED THE WAIST UP REALLY TIGHT AND TOOK THE PRESSURE OFF YOUR SHOULDERS, THIS JUST SEEMED TO DIG INTO YOUR WAIST LIKE CRAZY, LIKE IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO WEAR … THAT BEING SAID, WHEN GUYS WENT TO THIS FROM LIKE THE CANISTERS THAT THEY USED TO WEAR, THIS MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE A NEW LEASE ON LIFE FOR THESE GUYS … I WORE THESE IN TRAINING – I DON’T THINK I EVER WORE ONE OF THESE BOTTLES ON AN ACTUAL FIRE CALL … WE HAD THE FIBERGLASS ONES IN FRONTLINE SERVICE WHEN I STARTED SO THIS WOULD BE PRE-1994, IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN. I DON’T THINK WE HAD THESE ON THE TRUCKS IN ’94. THEY WERE AROUND AND THEY WERE BACKUPS, BUT THEY WEREN’T FRONTLINE.” HE ELABORATED FURTHER, SAYING: “WE DIDN’T HAVE INDIVIDUAL MASKS; WE SHARED MASKS ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BACK THEN … THERE WASN’T ENOUGH MONEY FOR THEM TO BUY US OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL FACE PIECE … SO WHAT WE USED TO DO IS AFTER EVERY INCIDENT OR AFTER EVERY TIME YOU WORE ONE OF THESE THINGS, IT WOULD COME OFF THE TRUCK, WE WOULD HAVE A BOTTLE OF MSA MASK CLEANER THAT WE WOULD PUT INTO A TUB, WE WOULD MAKE A SOAPY WATER SOLUTION, WE WOULD WASH THE MASK, RINSE THE MASK, LET IT HANG TO DRY, AND THE NEXT PERSON WOULD USE IT AS THE NEXT SHIFT CAME ON.” HE ADDED THAT NOW EVERYONE IN THE DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR OWN MASK: “WE’VE HAD OUR OWN MASKS FOR 10-12 YEARS. WE STILL SHARE THE SCBAS AS FAR AS THE BOTTLE AND THE HARNESS GOES … THEY’RE IN THE RACKS ON THE TRUCK, IN THE BACKS OF THE SEATS AND DOWN IN BY THE HOSE OR THE PUMP COMPARTMENTS.” IN DISCUSSING WHY THIS MODEL IS NO LONGER USED, LAZENBY STATED: “THIS HOSE EASILY CRIMPED SO YOUR AIR SUPPLY COULD BE CUT OFF. THE AIR SUPPLY THAT NOW GOES FROM THE TANK TO YOUR MASK IS A MUCH MORE RIGID HOSE THAT, REALLY, YOU’D HAVE TO BASICALLY BEND IT IN HALF TO STOP THE FLOW OF AIR.” DZUREN ADDED FURTHER: “PRIOR TO [THIS] OUR BREATHING APPARATUS WAS WHAT THEY CALLED A CANISTER TYPE OF BREATHING APPARATUS … IT WAS JUST A CANISTER THAT YOU HAD IN FRONT OF YOU HERE AND IT WAS LAYERS OF … GEL, AND SAND, AND SILICA … THERE WAS A SHELF-LIFE WITH THOSE THINGS. IF YOU USED THEM, YOU PRETTY WELL HAD TO DISCARD THEM AFTER YOU USED THEM.” WHEN ASKED WHEN THIS TYPE OF SCBA CAME INTO SERVICE, DZUREN STATED: “I WOULD PROBABLY SAY MAYBE IN THE ‘70S SOMETIME? … I RECALL GUYS GOING IN WHEN WE JUST HAD THOSE CANISTERS. THEY WOULD GO WITHOUT ANYTHING. AND THEY WOULD COME OUT AFTER A WHILE AND THEY WOULD BE BARFING THEIR GUYS OUT … IT SEEMED TO BE, EVEN PRIOR TO MY TIME, WHEN THE STORIES I HEARD FROM GUYS THERE LONGER THAN MYSELF, THAT SEEMED TO BE THE MACHO THING. GET IN THERE AND THEY’D GET IN THERE WITHOUT A MASK. BUT EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, BETTER THINKING CAME ALONG AND SAID ‘DON’T BE SILLY, GET SOME STUFF ON THERE.’ BUT ONCE THEY GOT IT, AND THEY STARTED TO USE IT, YOU DID FEEL A LOT BETTER GOING IN, ‘CAUSE PRIOR TO USE GETTING THAT WE HEARD THE HORROR STORIES OF GUYS WHO DID SUCCUMB TO THE ELEMENTS BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE CANISTER TYPES, BUT ONCE THEY GOT [THIS SCBA] IT WAS BETTER.” SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
- Catalogue Number
- P20150010017
- Acquisition Date
- 2015-02
- Collection
- Museum
Images
APPARATUS, BREATHING
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact13146
- Other Name
- SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS TRAINING BACKPACK
- Date Range From
- 1995
- Date Range To
- 2005
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CANVAS, NYLON, METAL
- Catalogue Number
- P20150010018
2 images
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS TRAINING BACKPACK
- Date Range From
- 1995
- Date Range To
- 2005
- Materials
- CANVAS, NYLON, METAL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 58.2
- Length
- 35.0
- Width
- 133.2
- Description
- SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS TRAINING BACKPACK. STEEL AIR TANK, PAINTED MEDIUM GREY, WITH DARK YELLOW CANVAS SHOULDER STRAPS, AND GREEN NYLON WAIST STRAP. MEDIUM GREY STEEL AIR BOTTLE, HELD TO THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY BY A SILVER COLOURED METAL BRACKET. THIS BRACKET HAS A LARGE YELLOW WITH GREEN WRITING STICKER: "MSA AIRMASK MODEL 401". HARNESS ASSEMBLY IS ALSO MEDIUM GREY METAL AND IS ROUGHLY RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE. AT THE TOP OF THE RECTANGLE IS A CIRCLE, WHICH IS WHERE THE YELLOW SHOULDER STRAPS ARE AFFIXED WITH BLACK AND SILVER COLOURED RIVETS TO THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY. YELLOW STRAPS ARE PADDED AND EACH STRAP HAS A SQUARE OF THE LOOP SIDE OF VELCRO AT THE BOTTOMS. THE YELLOW STRAPS ATTACH TO THE RIGID WAIST SUPPORT WITH BLACK NYLON STRAPS. THE ENDS OF THE BLACK STRAPS HAVE A RECTANGULAR PIECE OF THE HOOK SIDE OF VELCRO AND THE VERY ENDS ARE FINISHED WITH A SEMI-CIRCULAR PIECE OF SILVER METAL. THE RIGID WAIST SUPPORT IS PADDED WITH BLACK FABRIC. THE GREEN WAIST STRAPS ARE AFFIXED TO THE RIGID METAL SUPPORT WITH TWO BLACK RIVETS EACH. THE WAIST STRAP CLOSES WITH A SEAT BELT STYLE BUCKLE. THE BUCKLE IS ON THE WEARER'S RIGHT SIDE AND IS STAMPED ON THE REVERSE WITH: "UIO BUCKLE WEAR BELT SNUG. REPLACE IF DAMAGED OR FRAYED." BOTTOM OF AIR BOTTLE IS STAMPED WITH "DOT-3A A2015. D136587 MSA". THE STAMP CONTINUES UNDER THE HARNESS, BUT IS NOT READABLE. PRESSURE GAUGE AND REGULATOR ALSO ON THIS END OF THE BOTTLE. OVERALL IN GOOD CONDITION. BOTTLE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN YELLOW AND THEN PAINTED GREY. GREY PAINT HAS SCRATCHED OFF ALL OVER THE AIR BOTTLE, REVEALING THE YELLOW SURFACE BELOW. ALL FABRIC STRAPS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, WITH NO VISIBLE TEARS OR RIPS. YELLOW STRAPS ARE DISCOLOURED.
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- SAFETY SERVICES
- History
- THIS SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS TRAINING BACKPACK WAS USED BY THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF DONATION, JESSE KURTZ, DEPUTY CHIEF – SUPPORT SERVICES (RETIRED), EXPLAINED THAT THE “THIS IS JUST A HARNESS FOR TRAINING PURPOSES WITH A STEEL AIR CYLINDER. IT SIMULATES THE ACTUAL WEIGHT AND FEEL OF A REAL SETUP. [IT WAS] ‘HOME BUILT’ FOR TRAINING PURPOSES.” IN THE SUMMER OF 2015, COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN KEVIN MACLEAN CONDUCTED A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING TREVOR LAZENBY (HIRED IN 1994). HE RECALLED: “I DON’T THINK I EVER WORN ONE OF THESE AT AN ACTUAL FIRE. I THINK I’VE ONLY EVER WORN THE NEXT GENERATION FIBERGLASS-WRAP … WE HAD THE FIBERGLASS ONES IN FRONTLINE SERVICE WHEN I STARTED, SO THIS WOULD BE PRE-1994, IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN. I DON’T THINK WE HAD THESE ON THE TRUCKS IN ’94. THEY WERE AROUND AND THEY WERE BACKUPS, BUT THEY WEREN’T FRONTLINE … WE KEPT ONE OR TWO AT THE NORTHSIDE FIRE HALL AND AT THE WESTSIDE FIRE HALL BECAUSE WHEN GUYS AT LUNCHTIME HAVE A WORKOUT, OR AFTER WORK, THEY’LL HAVE A WORKOUT AND THEY’LL ACTUALLY PUT THE OLD HEAVY STEEL BOTTLE ON AND THEY’LL CLIMB THE STAIRS – SO IT’S USED TO WORK OUT AND NOTHING ELSE. VERY, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. VERY HEAVY DESIGN.” SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LETHBRIDGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
- Catalogue Number
- P20150010018
- Acquisition Date
- 2015-02
- Collection
- Museum
Images
APPARATUS, BREATHING
https://collections.galtmuseum.com/en/permalink/artifact11883
- Other Name
- PERMISSIBLE RESPIRATOR
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STEEL, RUBBER
- Catalogue Number
- P20030051022
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- PERMISSIBLE RESPIRATOR
- Date
- 1984
- Materials
- STEEL, RUBBER
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Height
- 14.6
- Length
- 10.2
- Width
- 8.2
- Description
- METAL CANISTER WITH BLACK RUBBER SLEEVE OVER TOP HALF. SLEEVE HAS A HOLE ON ONE SIDE FOR A RECTANGULAR METAL CATCH (FOR ATTACHING RESPIRATOR). EMBOSSED ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF SLEEVE IS "MSA 81". ON ONE SIDE OF CANISTER IS A WORN LABEL THAT READS "PERMISSIBLE RESPIRATOR SELF RESCUE FROM CARBON MONOXIDE MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH". OPPOSITE SIDE OF CANISTER ALSO HAS A WORN LABEL THAT READS "PERMISSIBLE RESPIRATOR". BOTTOM OF CANISTER HAS VARIOUS MACHINE MADE AND HAND MADE ETCHINGS. IT READS "9629 W65 SELF-RESCUER C18687 1031 DATE PUT IN SERVICE 03-84 MADE IN WEST GERMANY".
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- ASSOCIATIONS
- History
- RETRIEVED FROM THE MINERS' LIBRARY BUILDING ON 13TH STREET NORTH AFTER ITS CLOSURE. LIBRARY MATERIALS AND MINING MEMORABILIA WERE KEPT IN A DISPLAY CASE LOCATED IN THE SOUTH WEST CORNER OF THE MAIN FLOOR CLUB ROOM. THE ORIGIN OF THE LETHBRIDGE MINERS' LIBRARY BEGINS WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY AND READING ROOM BY THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ALBERTA RAILWAY AND COAL CO., IN 1890. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY WAS FOLLOWING IN THE TRADITION OF THE MECHANICS' LIBRARIES, ALSO CALLED MECAHNICS' INSTITUTES, THAT SPRANG UP ACROSS EASTERN NORTH AMERICA IN THE MID 1800S. THEY WERE SELF-HELP INSTITUTES SET UP BY WORKING MEN TO PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR WORKING MEN SO THEY COULD BETTER THEMSELVES IN LIFE. THE MINERS' LIBRARY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THOSE WHO WANTED TO MOVE UP THE ECHELON IN THE COAL MINE. IT WAS ORIGINALLY HOUSED IN A SMALL BUILDING NEXT DOOR TO 108 5TH STREET SOUTH, AND MEMBERSHIP WAS NOT RESTRICTED TO MINERS. A YEAR LATER THE EMPLOYEES RENOVATED THE FORMER #1 BOARDING HOUSE, LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MACLEOD ROAD, FOR RELOCATION OF THE LIBRARY AND WHEN THIS LARGER BUILDING OPENED IT IS SAID TO HAVE HAD 300 BOOKS. WITH THE REORGANIZATION OF THE GALT COMPANIES IN 1904, THE AR&C COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES' READING ROOM AND LIBRARY SOCIETY BECAME THE ALBERTA RAILWAY AND IRRIGATION COMPANY'S EMPLOYEE'S READING ROOM AND LIBRARY SOCIETY. THE LIBRARY CONTAINED 1500 BOOKS, PLUS MANY MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS. IN 1908 THE SOCIETY WAS REFERRED TO AS THE GALT MINER'S LIBRARY, AND STILL IN THE #1 BOARDING HOUSE BUILDING, IT CONTAINED A BILLIARD ROOM AND GYMNASIUM. THE NEXT KNOWN MOVE OF THE LIBRARY WAS IN 1917 WHEN THE GALT MINES LIBRARY PURCHASED THE BAILEY ST. SCHOOL AND MOVED IT TO 733 13TH ST. NORTH - WHERE IT IS STILL PART OF THE MODERN BUILDING THAT USED TO BE THE MINER'S LIBRARY. AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY IN THE YMCA IN 1919 AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CARNEGIE FUNDED LIBRARY IN GALT GARDENS, THE 'LIBRARY AND READING ROOM' ACTIVITIES BECAME OF LESSER IMPORTANCE. THE MINERS' LIBRARY BECAME MORE OF A SOCIAL CLUB WHICH HAS GIVEN GREAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MANY ASPECTS OF THE LETHBRIDGE COMMUNITY. A BAR AREA IN THE CLUB'S BASEMENT PROVIDED A SPACE FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS WEDDINGS, OFFICE PARTIES, FUNERALS AND VARIOUS CLUB ACTIVITIES. THE UPSTAIRS BLACK NUGGET LOUNGE OFFERED MEALS, DRINKS, LIVE MUSIC, DARTS, POOL, CRIB AND VLTS. LONG TIME MEMBERS COULD BUY THEIR CHAIR AND HAVE THEIR NAME ON IT. A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT SOCIETY, THE CLUB MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FORMER ADAMS PARK BALL FIELD AND SPECTATOR STANDS, AND SUPPORTED MANY SPORTS AND SPORTS TEAMS THROUGH THE YEARS. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL PARKS THAT HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN FUNDS FROM THE LIBRARY. THE CLUB WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING PAVAN PARK, AND VARIOUS SPORTS VENUES. AS MEMBERSHIP IN THE CLUB DWINDLED THE CLUB'S SALES COULD NOT COVER THE DAILY COSTS OF RUNNING THE OPERATION. IN 2000 FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WERE UNDERTAKEN, AND ALONG WITH AN AUCTION AND CRAFT AND BAKE SALES, THE CLUB SOLICITED DONATIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY. HOWEVER, BY 2003 THE CLUB HAD ONLY 300 MEMBERS (LESS THAN 1/3 OF THAT 3 YEARS PRIOR) AND AFTER 113 YEARS IT WAS FORCED TO CLOSE IT'S DOORS. AT THE TIME OF ITS CLOSURE THE LETHBRIDGE MINERS' LIBRARY CLUB WAS THE LONGEST STANDING MEN-ONLY CLUB, AND THE OLDEST CONTINUALLY RUNNING CLUB IN ALBERTA.
- Catalogue Number
- P20030051022
- Acquisition Date
- 2004-04
- Collection
- Museum
- Other Name
- HANDLES & BIT
- Date Range From
- 1930
- Date Range To
- 1940
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STEEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19880047000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- HANDLES & BIT
- Date Range From
- 1930
- Date Range To
- 1940
- Materials
- STEEL
- No. Pieces
- 3
- Description
- 204.0 CM - HANDLE, 115.5 CM-HANDLE (MISSING), 152.0 CM - BIT. MANUAL TYPE. TWIST BIT, WELDED TO SHANK. 4 FACET END, DRILLED TO JOIN HANDLE. SPIKE BENT THROUGH. HANDLES HAVE SLEEVE TO FACILITATE TURNING.
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- History
- POSSIBLY LOCALLY MADE BY COMPANY BLACKSMITH OR LOCAL IRON WORKS INDUSTRY. USED IN AREA COAL MINES BY DONOR'S FATHER. HEATON'S IN LETHBRIDGEFOR 4 GENERATIONS.
- Catalogue Number
- P19880047000
- Acquisition Date
- 1988-07
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- MINER'S BATTERY BELT
- Date Range From
- 1930
- Date Range To
- 1940
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- CLOTH, METAL, SLATE
- Catalogue Number
- P19890038001
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- MINER'S BATTERY BELT
- Date Range From
- 1930
- Date Range To
- 1940
- Materials
- CLOTH, METAL, SLATE
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 76.5
- Width
- 13.5
- Description
- CLOTH BELT WITH SNAP FASTENED POCKET CONTAINS 8 BATTERY UNITS. EACH UNIT IS COMPRISED OF 3 CELLS, WRAPPED IN PAPER & COATED CLOTH WITH METAL END CAPS & TERMINALS. UNITS ARE WIRED IN SERIES AND CONNECTED TO A GROUND ON BELT & TO AN ELASTICIZED CLOTH STRAP. REVERSE: BELT IS QUILTED WITH 2 LARGE SLATE DISCS CONNECTED TO BELT BY CANVAS STRAP WITH INSULATED WIRE ATTACHED TO DISCS. IMPRINTED ON BELT "R.BELL'S ELECTRO? APPLIANCE" OTHER LETTERS ILLEGIBLE. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- History
- DONOR ACQUIRED FROM COAL MINES IN THE CUMBERLAND-NANIAMO AREA OF B.C. BELIEVED APPARATUS PROVIDED POWER FOR MINER'S ELECTRIC HAT LAMPS. *UPDATE* IN 2018, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT ELISE PUNDYK CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF BOXED TEXTILES ARTIFACTS AND ACCESSORIES. LEONARD TIMOTHY DECOSSE WAS BORN 18 NOVEMBER 1923. HE MARRIED MOLLY MARIKAO DECOSSE (NEE NISHIMAZURU), WHO WAS BORN IN BROXBURN, ALBERTA IN MAY 1931. SHE GRADUATED FROM THE GALT BUSINESS COLLEGE. LEONARD DECOSSE PASSED AWAY ON 23 FEBRUARY 2015. MOLLY DECOSSE PASSED AWAY IN COMOX, B.C. ON 25 SEPTEMBER 2006. HER OBITUARY STATES SHE LIVED IN THE COMOX VALLY FOR 25 YEARS. RESEARCH CONDUCTED TO LOCATE FURTHER INFORMATION OR THE NEXT-OF-KIN WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, INCLUDING OBITUARIES.
- Catalogue Number
- P19890038001
- Acquisition Date
- 1989-10
- Collection
- Museum
- Date Range From
- 1940
- Date Range To
- 1950
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- LEATHER, STEEL, COPPER, BRASS
- Catalogue Number
- P19890038006
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Date Range From
- 1940
- Date Range To
- 1950
- Materials
- LEATHER, STEEL, COPPER, BRASS
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 104
- Width
- 5.4
- Description
- LEATHER & STEEL BELT, COPPER RIVETS. SMALLER STRAP & BUCKLES FOR MINER'S LAMP BATTERY PACK. WORN & FRAYED HOLE FOR BUCKLE PIN. 1 LARGE, 2 SMALL ROLLER BUCKLES. 1 BRASS BUCKLE ON BELT BODY REPAIRED WITH WIRE AND THREAD. LEATHER DRY WITH WHITE BLOOM NEAR BUCKLE. SEE CONSERVATION REPORT.
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- History
- DONOR ACQUIRED FROM ABANDONED COAL MINING OPERATION NANAIMO-CUMBERLAND AREA B.C. *UPDATE* IN 2018, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT ELISE PUNDYK CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF BOXED TEXTILES ARTIFACTS AND ACCESSORIES. LEONARD TIMOTHY DECOSSE WAS BORN 18 NOVEMBER 1923. HE MARRIED MOLLY MARIKAO DECOSSE (NEE NISHIMAZURU), WHO WAS BORN IN BROXBURN, ALBERTA IN MAY 1931. SHE GRADUATED FROM THE GALT BUSINESS COLLEGE. LEONARD DECOSSE PASSED AWAY ON 23 FEBRUARY 2015. MOLLY DECOSSE PASSED AWAY IN COMOX, B.C. ON 25 SEPTEMBER 2006. HER OBITUARY STATES SHE LIVED IN THE COMOX VALLY FOR 25 YEARS. RESEARCH CONDUCTED TO LOCATE FURTHER INFORMATION OR THE NEXT-OF-KIN WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PLEASE SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, INCLUDING OBITUARIES.
- Catalogue Number
- P19890038006
- Acquisition Date
- 1989-10
- Collection
- Museum
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STEEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19738001000
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- STEEL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 59.8
- Width
- 5.1
- Diameter
- 3.8
- Description
- EMBOSSED ON SHANK - "W". STAMPED ON SHANK - "200".
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- Catalogue Number
- P19738001000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-03
- Collection
- Museum
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT EXTENSION
- Date Range From
- 1910
- Date Range To
- 1920
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STEEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19738490000
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT EXTENSION
- Date Range From
- 1910
- Date Range To
- 1920
- Materials
- STEEL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 66.1
- Width
- 4.4
- Description
- PAINTED BLACK. APPEARS TO BE AN EXTENSION LENGTH USED TO EXTEND COAL DRILL BITS. SLOTTED TIP WITH NORMAL COAL DRILL BIT TWIST. "JW" EMBOSSED ON SHANK. "237" ENGRAVED ON SHANK, WITH WHITE PAINT ON TOP.
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- Catalogue Number
- P19738490000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-01
- Collection
- Museum
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- IRON
- Catalogue Number
- P19739112000
1 image
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- IRON
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 154.3
- Description
- SIZE 2.7CM TWIST. MANUAL OPERATED. WHITE MARKS ON HANDLE. "G.R" ON FLAT PART OF STEEL ON ONE SIDE BEFORE TWIST.
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- Catalogue Number
- P19739112000
- Acquisition Date
- 1973-09
- Collection
- Museum
Images
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Materials
- STEEL
- Catalogue Number
- P19750049000
- Material Type
- Artifact
- Other Name
- COAL DRILL BIT
- Date Range From
- 1900
- Date Range To
- 1910
- Materials
- STEEL
- No. Pieces
- 1
- Length
- 48.9
- Width
- 3.8
- Description
- EMBOSSED ON SHANK "JWC". STAMPED ON SHANK "100". RUSTED.
- Subjects
- MINING & MINERAL HARVESTING T&E
- Historical Association
- COAL MINING
- History
- FROM THE LOCATELLI FARM AT COALHURST.
- Catalogue Number
- P19750049000
- Acquisition Date
- 1975-02
- Collection
- Museum