Coal mining technology has changed over the years. As electricity became available the miner no longer relied upon the devices shown in our picture. Today miners wear a hard hat and the mine is well-lighted by electricity. Pictured from the top: carbide light; sticking tommy with candle; tea kettle spout light; and script money that could only be spent in the company owned store. My dad was a coal miner in Shinnston, W.Va., in early 1920.
Recent auction prices: primitive fish spear, $25; nice beaded purse, $85; powder horn, $27.50; old wooden grease bucket; nice buttocks basket, $55; harness bells, $30; gray granite pail, $22.50; Vaseline glass oil lamp, $50; stillard scale, $12.50; blue granite strainer, $17.50; a rare Sugarcreek Cherry Ridge milk bottle, $350; crystal Millersburg Theater plate, $250.
Happy hunting, Brooks.
