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 Post subject: Under-aged Miners > Collectables > Helmets
PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:04 am 
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Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:51 pm
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Location: SW Indiana
I know that child labor was common in all coal fields.

But, I'm getting P**** :x :x :x .

In recent weeks I have purchases three miner hats / helmets off of E-Bay and two of the three are hat sizes less than 7. The latest one arrived today.
I hate to ping the Sellers as there has been no indication of them being small. But, if I'm paying good $$, I'd like to have a helmet that I could wear occasionally.


Case in Point:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200270708010&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123


Anyone care to offer an explanation or suggestions?

Were all early Pa Miners wee little folks?

Anyone Interested in a nice turtleshell for the kiddies?


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:07 am 
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Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:43 pm
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Location: Western PA
yeah, i wonder about that too. every old comfo cap i come across is too damn small for my head. who was wearing these things?!

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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:25 am 
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Location: Ohio
I Have quite a few turtle shell helments ,and what i did was take to a shoe repair place and they resize it for me. I guess it all depends on if you want to keep it orginal or not.

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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:31 am 
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Location: Hard coal region, PA
i have 2 turtle shells...ones a little tight..just allllmost to the point where I can't wear it, and ones way too small. it seems a lot of the old "low veins" are like that too... :?:

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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:37 am 
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O.V.C.C. Mike wrote:
I Have quite a few turtle shell helmets ,and what i did was take to a shoe repair place and they resize it for me. I guess it all depends on if you want to keep it orginal or not.


This one is interesting as I was expecting the shell and band to be a hard leather. In fact both are a rather thin bakelilte / plastic material. What is the material on yours? And do they all run small? I don't have a large hat size, usually 7 1/4 is fine to a bit large. This one must be about 6 3/4. And I don't see much room for adjustment.


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:21 am 
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I wonder if the fact that much of the materials are natural leather that there has been shrinkage over extended time?

A few years ago I was heavily into a hobby and had a couple of wool and leather caps ( actually there were called kepis ). Buy new one and with in a few weeks it was getting tight. This seemed to be an on going problem, to the point the most vendors had hat strechers.


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:23 pm 
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OVCC MIke / Banks

When you get a chance. Look and see if any of the examples have any size markings.

I'm going to try to get a handle on if this is design or shrinkage.


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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:44 pm 
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Location: Hard coal region, PA
Don't think mine do...but i'll take a look for sure

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PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:25 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pm
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Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field
yea, one of mine did have an old tag. its a brand new, old helmet. size 7 1/4. i have another that fits ok, and one that is way too small like the ones you found. all are old comfo caps.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:38 am 
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Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:33 pm
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Location: Above the Sterling Hill Mine
I think the problem is that is all that is left ... the small ones designed to fit children. Thats probably why you keep finding those on EBay or where-ever else. Too bad. While people don't agree with me on this point, but since the old Comfo-Caps are being used in mines, whatever little is left is being ruined. And thus they are harder to find.

Miner Greg


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PostPosted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:32 am 
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Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field
i doubt they were used for children. when the comfo cap came out the child labor days were long gone. maybe they just had small heads.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:19 am 
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For reference the two I'm havign problems with are a soft cap and a turtle shell.

But you guys may have a good point. The ones in usable sizes were/are kept and being used to death.


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