002.323.Idrija

Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija.

Public

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

/

Mine

All the described objects are forged. They have a grip of different width and thickness and handles. According to their characteristics, the described wrenches can be divided into: the single and double fork-like or four-edged shape, with ends facing in different directions, some of them have a bent handle; the one-ended (star) – they have a distinctive hexagon end opening; the combined wrenches – fork-like; the wedge-shaped – end for screwing the nuts with a notch; the shell wrenches – they have a bore on each hub. That one is mostly straight and of different widths. Some wrenches are made of two parts, which are welded together. These have a bent handle.

Length 21.5–162.6 cm, width 3.6–35 cm, height 0.8–25.5 cm.

Steel, iron.

20th century.

Manufacturer information is not known.

The described wrenches were used for screwdriving bolts and nuts of different sizes and dimensions. The advantage of double fork-like wrenches was that, just like combined ones, they enabled the screwing on both sides. The shell wrenches have a bore on each hub, which enables the insertion of a round steel for achieving larger scope during screwdriving. The wrenches, which have a two-piece handle, show evidence that they were made in accordance with the specific requirements of the Idrija Mercury Mine. The described wrenches were used for working in the Idrija Mercury Mine pit and its outdoor facilities (auxiliary plants, mechanical workshop, forge, compressor station, vehicle repair workshop, construction and transport department, etc.).

The described collection of 54 objects is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. They are all a part of the CUDHg mining collection. Visitors can view some of them within the museum exhibition in the Kamšti building or in the Francis’s shaft showrooms. Here, the visitors can also view the Idrija Municipal Museum collection “Mining machines and devices”. It displays restored mining machines and devices, tools and equipment, which were necessary for working in a pit or in Mine’s outdoor plants. Other objects are stored in the museum depot and can be used for occasional museum exhibitions. All objects can also be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.

Idrija Mercury Mine (miner’s working equipment).

Kamšti building; Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot, Francis’ shaft, upper showroom.

All the described items were conserved in 2002. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premise is ensured.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance.

- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

13. 3. 2018

Never