ANTI-DUST HALF-FACE MASK WITH SINGLE FILTER (COLLECTION)
Name 2
/
ID number
002.222.Idrija
Manager / Administrator
Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija
Local / Original ID Number
510:IDR;RZ-432, RZ-439
Type of Object
Mine
Description
Short description
The anti-dust half-face mask consists of housing, nose and mouth shield and round filter. The rings for clamping head straps are on the sides. The manufacturer’s sign AUER is in the middle of the filter.
Measures
Length 11 cm, width 6.5 cm, height 12 cm.
Materials
Aluminium, rubber.
Dating
Second half of the 20th century.
Author / Producer
Mine Safety Appliances Company (also MSA Safety Incorporated), Pittsburgh, USA.
Picture attachments
Original use
The Auer anti-dust half-face masks were used by miners during ore excavation as protection against dust. It is well known that these types of masks came into use in Idrija Mercury Mine after Pirelli masks. The share of individual dust particles in the pit air depended on its content in the excavated ore and on the ore excavation technology. Dustiness in the pit was highest during mechanical loading and pouring of the ore. It was also high during dry drilling, mining and blowing backfill. The free flint (silicon) was especially harmful to the miners, since it caused a lung disease (silicosis) if someone was exposed to it for a longer period of time. After 1975, the Idrija Mercury Mine did not report any cases of miners diagnosed with illnesses connected with harmful effects of mercury, not even lung diseases.
Present use
The anti-dust half-face masks are being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. They are a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. They are stored in the depot. They can be used for temporary museum exhibitions and for other types of mercury heritage promotions.
Original location
Idrija Mercury Mine worksite.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The objects are appropriately preserved, with the exception of the missing head straps. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum;
- Kobal, Alfred Bogomir, Dizdarevič, Tatjana. Varstvo delavcev, izpostavljenih živemu srebru v Rudniku živega srebra Idrija po drugi svetovni vojni. Idrijski razgledi, 41/2, 1996, p. 15–27.