July 26, 2007

Tool time

Mining Museum presents annual ‘Tools of the Miner’ event

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Some people collect antiques and others covet Beanie Babies, but for one group of steadfast collectors, their collectable of choice is mining artifacts. And such a group recently congregated at the fifth annual “Tools of a Miner” event staged at the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum.

Mining collectors gather at New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum’s “Tools of the Miner” event. Park interpreter John Slenter displays some of the larger objects from the museum collection. Front row, from the left, New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association President Kitty Monahan, Terry Berody, Dr. Robert Kraft, Bob Samay, Kitty and Rick Yarborough and Slenter. Back row, from left, Randy Marcotte, Herb Dick and Jim Swallow. Photo by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“We have a couple of new collectors here today,” noted New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum park interpreter John Slenter, who organizes the yearly summer event. “These are serious collectors and many of the items like the Pelton water wheel are works of art. And they’re an important group as they keep mining history alive.”

Besides a multitude of mining paraphernalia, the group of California collectors shared a wealth of knowledge of the 1800s mining era and a few adventures of their own from their years of collecting whether deep in shafts or antique shops. Slenter, who reveals stories of the New Almaden Mine daily at the Quicksilver Museum, is an avid collector who met the group of men over the years at mining shows. The group is part of approximately 400 serious collectors of mining artifacts who attend the specialized events a few times a year, buying and trading coveted items.

Terry Berody has attended the “Tools of the Miner” event in the past, but recently added a new passion to his collection of gold nuggets and 100-year-old ore carts—miners’ clothing.

“I found the miners’ clothing in Nevada,” said the handlebar-mustached Berody, who traveled from Mokelumne Hill for the event. “The ones with brands are the best, like Monitor and Eureka with mining graphics on them, though Levi is good, too. Here’s even an old hat with candle wax on it. They would wear their clothes until they were tattered and then just leave them in the mine.”

Dr. Bob Kraft’s obsession with mining artifacts started innocently enough. On a visit to Lake of the Pines 20 years ago, he spotted a miner’s lamp at an antique shop. As any collector knows, one is never enough. Now his Hillsborough home is decorated with mining items and he’s always looking for more. He brought a sampling of safety lamps that were first invented in 1815 and prevented explosions from the methane gas.

Herb Dick brought pieces of flat cables and even had New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association President Kitty Monahan check the premises to see if any were on the museum site. Dick stores his collection at his Mineral and Mining Museum in Sacramento where he has private showings and his very own assayer’s office. His collection is so large that he’s thinking of expanding.

Rick and Kitty Yarborough are familiar with mining operations. He works at Contra Costa County’s Black Diamond Mines stabilizing the mine and the she is a docent. They’ve become serious collectors, he with mine artifacts and she with old kitchen collectables. “We’re pack racks,” she said.

Randy Marcotte of Castro Valley became interested in mining artifacts when his wife would take him to antique shops. From one candlestick, he now has more than 200 as well as scales and other mining artifacts. He shared some of his more unusual mining paraphernalia at the “Tools of the Miner” event.

Don Powell shared his expertise of carbide lamps. The San Jose resident discussed his knowledge with adults and kids who found his collection fascinating.

Bob Samay of Pacifica brought some unusual mining artifacts to the event. He’s collected for 20 years and travels California and Nevada looking for coveted items.

Jim Swallow of Rattlesnake Creek Mining Company shared his collection of mine-blasting equipment. He also brought a wooden canary cage, which would warn miners if the air had enough oxygen underground.

“The birds didn’t die in the mines,” said Swallow. “The miners would watch them and when they became lethargic they all went out of the mines. They took good care of the birds. They were very important to them.”

Asked what new artifacts he has collected since last year’s show, Swallow said, “Oh, I’m collecting more junk. I’m the collector. I came here to show my tools and blasting equipment and to eat!”

In between sharing their mining knowledge with guests at the museum, the group of collectors took turns descending to Casa Grande’s Big Room, where New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum park interpreter Terri Sanislo served a full-service buffet.

“This is what I call boys and their very expensive toys’ day,” said Sanislo. “They get together and share their expertise with the public and they eat well!”