Coal miners at collieries across the country depended on this industry for many many years which proved to be the backbone of the industrial working class. After a long, hard, dark and dusty day deep underground a miner would emerge knowing that his family would largely be dependent on how much actual coal he had managed to produce. How was this calculated? A type of apparatus had been designed which was effectively a coal weighing machine. This coal weighing machine was able to separate the coal from the slack. This was significant as the miners would be paid for the weight of the coal alone and not for the weight of the coal combined with the slack. The invention of these coal weighing machines known as the ‘Billy fair-play machines did meet with a certain amount of suspicion, mainly from the trade unions when they first appeared on the scene. It did not take long however for these coal weighing machines to become widely accepted and widely used as their benefits were self explanatory. When a man such as a coal miner puts in such a hard days work he wants to at least be able to expect a fair days wages that equates to his hard days work. The invention of the coal weighing machines such as the ‘Billy fair-play’ coal weighing machine gave the miners more confidence that they would be fairly paid for their labours. The machine was to be further improved by a Mr EG Thomas of the Cambrian Safety 1 Works of Aberdare and would come to supersede the earlier machine which had become known as ‘billy fair-play’.
E. Thomas & Williams Limited located in Aberdare are today renowned safety lamp manufacturers carrying on their long legacy of producing quality mining lamps and coal weighing machines. Having been established in the year 1860 E. Thomas and Williams Limited carry with them a complex and rich history spanning many many decades. Standing at the heart of where the coal mining industry was once based, the products produced today by E. Thomas & Williams Limited are manufactured just a stones throw from where some of the country’s leading collieries once operated. When it comes to mining safety equipment it simply is in the blood of our company E. Thomas & Williams Limited. Whether you are looking for quality mining lamps or coal weighing machines we will be able to provide you more information and a quality service second to none. We deeply value the legacy of the company and all those dedicated man who went before us right back to the original Mr Evan Thomas and his invention of the miner’s lamp. If you would like to learn more about the history of our company and the history of the miner’s lamp and coal weighing machines, do have a look at our website. You will also find here our address in Aberdare along with our contact details and we welcome you to get in touch with us at your convenience.
