Pit tags

[sherrardk]

Anyone know where I might find pit tags on the net (not big on trawling shops). I have tried eBay (home of all that is weird and wonderful but no luck). Thanks.

[evil__sheep]

what are pit tags?

[sherrardk]

They are metal discs printed with a number and the coal pit name - the miners used to be issued with one and would exchange it for their helmet/light (I think). I have an oval one for a particular mine with the the pit name on and a number. I would like to look into getting some more of them.

[evil__sheep]

you can get the same sort of things in pet shops

[sherrardk]

Ok, I'll bite. They are specific to the mining industry. I don't want one shaped like a bone with Fido written on it.

[evil__sheep]

i'm not taking the Fosters - if you just need metal disks with name/numbers on you can get them in pet shops

[Quassia]

sherrardk,
are these the same as tags? http://collectables.s...d=p3286.c0.m270.l1311

[Buenchico]

A bit of googling showed me that the proper name for these items is 'pit checks'. A quick lock at eBay and, hey presto, . . .
http://collectables.s....html?_nkw=pit+checks

Chris

PS: I hope that 'Sherrardt' had a lovely birthday, yesterday

[paddywak]

Plenty on e-bay but I was surprised the prices some are fetching, up to £50 for rare ones, I better put mine up for sale.

[sherrardk]

Thanks Quassia - I was obviously using a different term (they are pit tags in South Wales). I will go and have a properr look now (and see how much they are).

[Buenchico]

'lock'?? 'look'!!
(And I've not touched a drop, honest!)

[sherrardk]

Thanks Quassia and Buenchico - sadly these are English pit tags/checks but I can keep an eye out for Welsh ones now that I know the alternative name for them.

My son had a lovely birthday thank you (must be more careful what I post on here as I had no idea that I had revealed his name!).

[sherrardk]

Thanks for the explanation Buenchico. Following what happened to Salla I have been more careful about 'personal' details!

My Welsh pit tag is so much nicer than those on EBay but I can keep a look out for a nice one.

[paddywak]

sherrardk, at the pits I worked each miner had three checks, one marked with the colliery name, his "check" and some times the colliery number and a designator number of the coalfield or with old checks the area of the N.C.B. For instance the first pit I worked at was in the old Number three area of the N.B.C. latter North Notts the miner retained this and only used it as proof of identity when claiming his pay. The other two usually a white plastic one and a brass one marked with his check number where kept in the time office and issued to the man immediately before going underground. The white tally was handed in to the Banks-man, the guy in charge of loading the cage, and booked in to prove the man was underground. The brass tally was retained by the miner on a dog tag clipped to his lamp and handed in to the Banks-man when he left the mine. A morbid use of the brass tally was that in the event of an explosion bodies could be identified by the check number

[sherrardk]

Thanks for that Paddywak - I thought I had the wrong end of the stick or it might be what my grandfather told me as a child to get around the whole 'dead body' thing.

[Buenchico]

This might be of interest:
http://www.mining-memorabilia.co.uk/