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-60
Type of Object
Mine
Description
Short description
The protective mask has a shield for nose and mouth. The mask has two lenses installed which make it possible to see through the mask. It has a round filter on the front side. In addition, it also has two safety head straps, which are connected at the nape. The right side of the mask has a German sign – an eagle with swastika.
Measures
Length 21 cm, width 13.2 cm, height 13.2 cm.
Materials
Aluminium, rubber, leather, glass.
Dating
End of the first half of the 20th century.
Author / Producer
Germany (manufacturer information is not known).
Picture attachments
Original use
Protective masks were used between 1945 and 1955 by the pit rescue service. It also served to protect miners from inhaling carbon oxide, smoke and dust particles. In the first twenty years after the Second World War, the protective equipment used in the Idrija Mercury Mine worksites was inadequate. Therefore, there were many cases of poisoning among miners and smelters. Dustiness of the worksites in the pit was the highest during mechanical loading and pouring of the ore. Especially high values of dust in the air also occurred during dry drilling, mining and blowing backfill. The share of individual dust particles in the air depended on its content in the excavated ore and on the ore excavation technology.
Present use
The protective mask is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the mining collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. It is stored in the depot. It may be used for temporary museum exhibitions and various forms of promotion mercury heritage.
Original location
Idrija Mercury Mine worksite.
Present location
Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The object is appropriately preserved. Therefore, no additional interventions are 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.