Library Record

Metadata

Object Name

Tape, Cassette

Catalog Number

svml.aud.m003

Title

Maslack, Adam

Summary

Quarry owner. Born in 1926, near quarry, as kid often watched engineer, had small farm and quarry, worked with father age 13 for 2 years, worked with brother and he broke stick, was came, left for other jobs after war, fewqualified people returned. Started purple hole four or five years till vein ran out, had 4 workers. 2 years after, put up another stick, 1950's. Very dangerous work. December 1954, at quiting time, father was pinned by slide, broke both legs, one amputated, other never set properly, after that closed quarry, no employees. 1998, worked elsewhere while quarrying.

What were boom derricks? (makes drawing) pale site an cast (steve will take photo of) can swing 80-90 degrees, whole thing turns, used before quarry sticks couldn't operate very far from pit, stick gave more moneaverability and distance for dropping nubble.

Were houres used when you were young? No, used mostly on boom-derrick.
steam engines? father used them. eletricity made these absolute (1920's-30's)

Handling/Cutting blacks? smaller pieces then, because of weight factor.
Cold-cutting before went to splitter, old method had less waste, new methods only 50 % - 60 % usable slate compared now can load large pieces on truck in few minutes.

Automatic trimmers, on conveyor, electronic eye, gets 4 sides, while on conveyor.

Equipment? lift trucks, can put stone on belt for saw rathen then have it up in the yard. Mural in museum-saw some errors in it, in methods depicted "artistic license"

Stories? Father's accident, cave-in in West Pawlet, at Brian Hill, father went to work at 15, Welsh boss, people walked near edge, boss said " those people are looking for your job!"

Health? people were tough, modern workers would not survive "work to survive" central europeans.

Call#

Oral History/Maslak

Published Date

May 14, 2003

Subjects

oral history

People