September 21, 2006

Mining collectors talk tools at New Almaden Quicksilver Museum

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum recently presented its annual “Tools of the Miner” event to the enjoyment attendees.

A dedicated group of collectors brought their mining collections and shared their expertise at the Tools of the Miner event at the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum. Left: Randy Marcotte, Don Powell, Terry Berody, Herb Dick, Jim Swallow, Rick Yarborough and Bob Samay. Center: New Almaden Mining Museum park interpreter John Slenter. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

Arranged by New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum park interpreter John Slenter, a group of dedicated collectors presented artifacts and a wealth of information about the 1800s mining era. The men have met over the years at the mining paraphernalia shows they attend a few times a year, buying and trading for coveted items.

“They are very devoted for coming all this way to share their collections and share their knowledge of mining,” said Slenter.

Randy Marcotte traveled from Castro Valley with some of his rarer candlesticks, scales and artifacts.

“My wife got me started,” said Marcotte. “I’d go with her to antique shops and from one candlestick, I now have over 200. I blame my wife, but it’s nice to go together and I enjoy the romance and history of the mining era.”

Marcotte met Slenter 15 years ago at one of the shows. He states that there are approximately 400 serious collectors who buy and trade the relicts of the mining era.

Bob Samay of Pacific brought some of his collection of 100 Pelton water wheels and catalogs. He’s collected mining artifacts for 20 years and has traveled to Nevada City and San Francisco looking for his personal coveted items.

Herb Dick began gathering minerals while majoring in geology in college. But as any collector knows, one collection leads to another. His obsession became mining paraphernalia. As he found more items, he moved the antiques into an 800-square-foot building and now gives his own private showings at his Mineral and Mining Museum in Sacramento, where he lives.

Kids of all ages have a blast at the Tools of the Miner event.

Terry Berody of Mokelumne Hill is a collector’s collector. His quest for original artifacts has taken him 500 feet below the earth’s surface where he’s found gold nuggets and 100-year-old ore carts. He once had a close call when a 10-foot timber fell on his shoulders, and considered himself fortunate to have survived with only a few bruises. Berody even looks the part as he sports a handlebar mustache.

Jim Swallow of Placerville says his passion is collecting mine-blasting paraphernalia and, as all the other collectors, has tales of the great deals he’s made via horse trading and bartering. One instance is a stamp mill he bought for $20, refurbished and is now worth $500. He uses the moniker Rattlesnake Creek Mining Company for his collection of antique mining artifacts.

Don Powell’s specialty is carbide lamps. The San Jose man stopped by the “Tools of the Miner” event, but couldn’t stay long because he was on his way to a barbeque. “I just didn’t want to miss this event!” said Powell.