Synopsis
This 1928 silent educational short produced by Eastman Classroom Films depicts operations at a coal mine near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, showing minecarts, simple tools, and harsh working conditions (TRT 14:55). Opening titles (0:10). Coal miners riding in a mining car exit the tunnel of a coal mine stenciled, “Be Careful Today.” The men’s faces are grim as they pass by, wearing headlamps and hats (0:14). The miners climb out of the mining car (0:29). A line of miners hand in buckets and headlamps at a small window with instructions posted on either side (0:38). A map of the Midwestern United States. A circle encompasses the borders between Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. A closer look pinpoints Pittsburgh. A black mass indicates coal country (0:48). A wide shot of a minecart loaded with men, entering a coal mine. A closeup entering the darkened mining tunnel. Intertitle: “Entering a Mining Shaft” (1:23). Workers march into an elevator in single file, as a man counts them, holding two others back. The elevator descends (1:55). A large mine shaft elevator pulley system spins, winding cable (2:22). Down the elevator. A man waves to an approaching minecart. A crew of men march in under small, fluttering United States flags (2:35). riding a minecart. The cart pauses at an intersection, allowing for another cart, piled high with chunks of coal, to pass (2:54). A man operates a large, motorized chainsaw, which cuts into a wall of coal. A team of two men operate a…
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Details
- Running time
- 14 minutes
- Collection
- Ephemeral Films
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- Bituminous Coal
- 1928
- Eastman
- Pittsburg
- Coalfield
- Mines
- Miining
- Stock Footage
- Periscope Film