002.162.Idrija

Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija

510:IDR;RZ-402

Mine

The light drilling hammer (hamar) is powered by compressed air. It is composed of the housing with a handle, the opening for the entry of compressed air – there is a disc valve inside, two valves for redirection of air and a piston. The hammer has a clamp for a hexagon drill (s = 25 mm). The hammer has the following marking signs: next to the drill clamp – 49 P021 7111, on the housing – 1 PO 21 89185 7410; on the handle – B.2., on the housing under the handle – 150 P021.

Length 42 cm, width 20.5 cm, height 13 cm.

Steel, rubber.

First half of the 20th century

Flottmann, Herne (Germany).

Machine drilling was introduced in the Idrija Mine in 1874. The drilling hammer was used for drilling wells in harder rocks for ore excavation in the Idrija Mercury Mine. In 1914, the mining administration decided to set the compressor station on the IV. horizon (183 m under the surface), which, among other things, powered 15 drilling machines on compressed air. In a drilling hammer, a piston was hitting, in regular intervals, the drill with a blade, just like the hammer on the chisel. While returning, the piston rotated in a specific angle and the drill also rotated. This rotation allowed the blade to gradually hit the entire surface of the well. At the excavating area, a digger and auxiliary digger drilled holes in the rock. Openings were are then filled with gunpowder, later on with dynamite, and were filled with clay rolls. Drilling caused a lot of fine dust, which settled in the lungs of the miners and caused an illness called silicosis.

The light drilling hammer is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the mine collection. Visitors can view it within the permanent exhibition “Five Centuries of the Mercury Mine and the Town of Idrija”. It can also be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.

Idrija Mercury Mine.

Idrija Municipal Museum, Gewerkenegg Castle (showroom 1).

The object is not complete, since one external connective cradle is missing. Before 1995, it was fully conserved for the needs of the permanent museum exhibition. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is taken care of.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance.

- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

5. 3. 2018

Never