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Percy Reid (1919-2011) - Mechanical Engineer & Manager, Pelton Colliery. Recorded 24 March 1988. Part 1/2.
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SummaryPERCY REID
Recorded 24 March 1988
Part 1 of 2
0:40
Recalls early managers of Pelton Colliery set up in 1916. Hill was appointed first manager. Worked at Pelton from 1952.
1:31
Served time with J.& A. Brown 1937. Born 1919, Hurstville. Father taught at Cessnock Technical College.
2:02
Moved to Cessnock in 1931. Studied mining at Cessnock Technical College. Bob Purcell - he was there in Perce's first year.
3:52
Worked as apprentice mechanical engineer. Jimmy Johnson was Superintendent at J. & A. Brown Abermain Seaham. 4:46 First worked at Abermain No. 3 March 1937. Recalls bringing horses via Abermain No. 1. Recalls ventilation of Abermain No. 3.
5:28
Location of Abermain No. 3 fan. Work duties at Abermain No. 1. Worked at Abermain No. 2 c.1938.
6:24
Recalls working at Richmond Main. Jeffries locomotives, Abermain No. 2. Arthur Donn.
7:06
John Ross. Ernie Hewitt. Coal haulage system, Abermain No. 2.
7:56
Description of "chocolate wheel" down underground. Recollection of endless rope steam haulage system mounted on the surface. Abermain No. 2 generated own electricity 1 DC and 1 AC.
9:37
Used "Jeffrey" coal-cutters at Abermain No. 2. Finished work career at Hexham Engineering. Worked at Richmond Main until Dec. 1942 3x boilers (John Thompson Water Tube boilers) 2x Frazer and Chalmers turbines generating the power supplying power to the district and a Noel Parsons turbine.
11:39
Darcy Wiseman. Phil O'Grady. Recalls work performed at Hexham Engineering mainly working on locos and mining equipment and building locos. 1939/40.
13:52
Worked for Wire Ropes and Masonite. John Bridge & Co., Newcastle. Worked for ACI, Sydney 1949-52. Worked as mechanical engineer, Pelton 1952.
14:20
David Haldane began working in 1948. Pelton used steam-powered "endless rope" - single tippler on to steel shakers. Perce Wells - timber pit top. Came down in 1954.
15:16
Recalls dismantling of Pelton pit top, 1954. Recollection of Pelton steam engine. Recalls wooden and steel skips used at Pelton Colliery - 1 ton. Length of "endless rope", Pelton. Used subsidiary haulage system at Pelton going in about 500 yards.
16:56
Make of generators, Pelton Bellis and Morecombe and Allen. Type and number of boilers, Pelton. Recalls reticulation of steam to bathrooms. Recalls driving of new tunnel, Pelton through old workings using the new conveyor.
19:47
British General Electric built coal washery - sand bath (Chance process). Make of ventilation fan and belt drives - Sirocco fan which was flat belt driven - wheel was 6 ft diameter and a 10" wide belt. Capacity of ventilation fan motor.
23:35
Depth of main conveyor belt - compass cord belt supplied by Goodyear. Andy Gourley 1953. Jack Napp, belt-splicer - "the Prince of belt splicers" - he belonged to Goodyear. Haldane was particular about conveyors. Extent of mechanisation at Pelton. "Joy" battery-operated shuttle cars.
26:24
8 BU "Joy" loaders. 11 BU "Joy" loaders. Distance shuttle cars ran down tunnel.
27:59
Dimension of "pillars", Pelton. Width of "headings", Pelton. Thickness of coal seam, Pelton.
29:08
Width of 18ft "cut-throughs", Pelton. Reason for number of "headings". Recalls workings mined at Pelton. Reason for having "stone drive" - one in five grade.
30:11
Number of pillars per "panel". Recalls opening of new workings. Recalls trouble associated with roofing. Brand/make of continuous miner .
34:09
Pelton was first mine to use roof bolting. Description of roof-bolting and timbering. Wilson Barrett - Aberdare No. 7 manager when Pelton Railway collapsed.
35:50
Recalls collapse of Pelton railway line. Jerry Bailey, the inspector. Recalls opening of new tunnel at Pelton. John Boyd - Industrial Inspector.
38:32
Jock Sneddon. Recollection of "man" tunnel - Allied Constructions. Recollection of "Airex" ventilation fan - electrically driven. Description of Pelton ventilation fan.
42:03
Dennis McDonald - contractor. Pelton coal recovery bin off the Washery. Recalls installing "Airex" fan shaft - sunk 30ft deep by a Singleton man. Recalls developments to Pelton tunnel.
45:37
End (Tape 403/Side A) Part 1 of 2.
SubjectReid, Percy Arthur Colquhoun, 1919-2011Mechanical engineersMine managersPelton Colliery (N.S.W.)Coal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- Hunter ValleyPersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToWilson BarrettCollectionVoices of the HunterLocation[1] Pelton Colliery, NSWIdentifier403A
Recorded 24 March 1988
Part 1 of 2
0:40
Recalls early managers of Pelton Colliery set up in 1916. Hill was appointed first manager. Worked at Pelton from 1952.
1:31
Served time with J.& A. Brown 1937. Born 1919, Hurstville. Father taught at Cessnock Technical College.
2:02
Moved to Cessnock in 1931. Studied mining at Cessnock Technical College. Bob Purcell - he was there in Perce's first year.
3:52
Worked as apprentice mechanical engineer. Jimmy Johnson was Superintendent at J. & A. Brown Abermain Seaham. 4:46 First worked at Abermain No. 3 March 1937. Recalls bringing horses via Abermain No. 1. Recalls ventilation of Abermain No. 3.
5:28
Location of Abermain No. 3 fan. Work duties at Abermain No. 1. Worked at Abermain No. 2 c.1938.
6:24
Recalls working at Richmond Main. Jeffries locomotives, Abermain No. 2. Arthur Donn.
7:06
John Ross. Ernie Hewitt. Coal haulage system, Abermain No. 2.
7:56
Description of "chocolate wheel" down underground. Recollection of endless rope steam haulage system mounted on the surface. Abermain No. 2 generated own electricity 1 DC and 1 AC.
9:37
Used "Jeffrey" coal-cutters at Abermain No. 2. Finished work career at Hexham Engineering. Worked at Richmond Main until Dec. 1942 3x boilers (John Thompson Water Tube boilers) 2x Frazer and Chalmers turbines generating the power supplying power to the district and a Noel Parsons turbine.
11:39
Darcy Wiseman. Phil O'Grady. Recalls work performed at Hexham Engineering mainly working on locos and mining equipment and building locos. 1939/40.
13:52
Worked for Wire Ropes and Masonite. John Bridge & Co., Newcastle. Worked for ACI, Sydney 1949-52. Worked as mechanical engineer, Pelton 1952.
14:20
David Haldane began working in 1948. Pelton used steam-powered "endless rope" - single tippler on to steel shakers. Perce Wells - timber pit top. Came down in 1954.
15:16
Recalls dismantling of Pelton pit top, 1954. Recollection of Pelton steam engine. Recalls wooden and steel skips used at Pelton Colliery - 1 ton. Length of "endless rope", Pelton. Used subsidiary haulage system at Pelton going in about 500 yards.
16:56
Make of generators, Pelton Bellis and Morecombe and Allen. Type and number of boilers, Pelton. Recalls reticulation of steam to bathrooms. Recalls driving of new tunnel, Pelton through old workings using the new conveyor.
19:47
British General Electric built coal washery - sand bath (Chance process). Make of ventilation fan and belt drives - Sirocco fan which was flat belt driven - wheel was 6 ft diameter and a 10" wide belt. Capacity of ventilation fan motor.
23:35
Depth of main conveyor belt - compass cord belt supplied by Goodyear. Andy Gourley 1953. Jack Napp, belt-splicer - "the Prince of belt splicers" - he belonged to Goodyear. Haldane was particular about conveyors. Extent of mechanisation at Pelton. "Joy" battery-operated shuttle cars.
26:24
8 BU "Joy" loaders. 11 BU "Joy" loaders. Distance shuttle cars ran down tunnel.
27:59
Dimension of "pillars", Pelton. Width of "headings", Pelton. Thickness of coal seam, Pelton.
29:08
Width of 18ft "cut-throughs", Pelton. Reason for number of "headings". Recalls workings mined at Pelton. Reason for having "stone drive" - one in five grade.
30:11
Number of pillars per "panel". Recalls opening of new workings. Recalls trouble associated with roofing. Brand/make of continuous miner .
34:09
Pelton was first mine to use roof bolting. Description of roof-bolting and timbering. Wilson Barrett - Aberdare No. 7 manager when Pelton Railway collapsed.
35:50
Recalls collapse of Pelton railway line. Jerry Bailey, the inspector. Recalls opening of new tunnel at Pelton. John Boyd - Industrial Inspector.
38:32
Jock Sneddon. Recollection of "man" tunnel - Allied Constructions. Recollection of "Airex" ventilation fan - electrically driven. Description of Pelton ventilation fan.
42:03
Dennis McDonald - contractor. Pelton coal recovery bin off the Washery. Recalls installing "Airex" fan shaft - sunk 30ft deep by a Singleton man. Recalls developments to Pelton tunnel.
45:37
End (Tape 403/Side A) Part 1 of 2.
SubjectReid, Percy Arthur Colquhoun, 1919-2011Mechanical engineersMine managersPelton Colliery (N.S.W.)Coal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- Hunter ValleyPersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToWilson BarrettCollectionVoices of the HunterLocation[1] Pelton Colliery, NSWIdentifier403Aloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Percy Reid (1919-2011) - Mechanical Engineer & Manager, Pelton Colliery. Recorded 24 March 1988. Part 1/2., [403A]. Living Histories, accessed 07/12/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56033