General Information

Serial #

E10-31

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

blasting machine

Patents

N/A

General Description

Grey and black metal casing; silver metal caps on lead connectors; red (rubber? bakelite?) seal under connector posts; brown leather carrying strap.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

14.0 cm

Width

9.5 cm

Height

14.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Mining and Metallurgy

Category

Mineral extraction

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Fidelity

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Pennsylvania

City

Lancaster

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Quebec

Period

Unknown

Canada

The CANMET-MMSL EXPERIMENTAL MINE in Val-d'Or, Quebec, was established in 1991 in response to Canadian and local mining industry needs for an increased emphasis on applied research. The former Beacon Gold Mine is an underground facility for in-situ testing and research in a true mining environment. The Experimental Mine is also available for individual companies to test equipment or for training purposes on a contract basis. CANMET-MMSL scientists at the Experimental Mine also offer a range of services to the local mining industry. The equipment suggested for acquisition represents the testing done by CANMET scientists. The mine comprises a unique underground hard rock testing site with an access ramp and five underground levels. There are two interconnected gold mines at this site. The earlier mine, Le Roy was opened from 1931-1932. It was operated by Le Roy Gold Mines Ltd. The Beacon II was open in mid-1980s and was owned by Mines Aurizon Ltd. There are over 2500 metres of drifts, plus raises and secondary openings and shrinkage stopes. Val d’Or area is very important to Canadian mining since gold was discovered there in 1923. Gold, copper, zinc and lead are still mined there today. Val d’Or had been and home to many mining companies such as Bourlamaque, Siscoe, Sigma, Sullivan, Lamaque, Osisco and Northern Star Mining. The history of the town reflects the region’s economic dependence on mining. This underground blasting machine was used at the Le Roy mine. Canmet installed an electric blast system, operated from the warehouse. Fidelity was created in 1898 on the site of the Paragon Co. and first manufacture electric fans and elections motors. CIL was formed in 1910 by the merger of five Canadian explosives companies under the name Canadian Explosives Company. In 1927 the name was changed to Canadian Industries Limited. CIL may have been a distributor of the Fidelity blasting machines. [Ref. 1]

Function

To set off prepared explosive charge.

Technical

Underground blasting machine employed twist key to activate detonator.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Mfr's plate is damaged, and some text is illegible; reads in part " ELECTRIC BLASTING CAPS 30 [illegible]/ [illegible] COPPER [illegible] WIRES IN SERIES/ [illegible] FIRING INSTRUCTIONS./ [illegible] INTERNAL [illegible]/ POSTS/ TWIST HANDLE [illegible] TO THE RIGHT./ CAUTION/ THIS MACHINE MAY LOSE CAPACITY/ [illegible]/ TO RESTORE, TWIST THE HANDLE/ CONTINUOUSLY A FEW TIMES./ SERIAL NO. E10- 32 [illegible]/ FIDELITY ELECTRIC CO. INC." Label on reverse reads "C-I-L/ No. 10 TWIST/ BLASTING/ MACHINE/ FIDELITY"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Grey and black metal casing; silver metal caps on lead connectors; red (rubber? bakelite?) seal under connector posts; brown leather carrying strap.

Decoration

N/A