I REMEMBER THE REFINERY
February 1929 - November 1933
Contributed by Jock Inglis
I was transferred from the Flotation to the Refinery in 1929
SUPERINTENDENT William (Bill) Hart
SHIFT BOSSES Charlie Adams, Francis Cotton, Don “Snowy” Wilsdon
ANODE HANDLERS Harold Hannigan, Jack Hannigan
ANODE SAMPLER Arnold Fitzpatrick
CATHODE CLEANERS Charlie Callow, Les Green, Dodger Hodgetts, Joe Lyons
CATHODE HANDLERS Jock Inglis, A. McGlade, H. Miller, Mick O’Grady
CATHODE STRIPPERS Arthur Ebdon, Poss Parnham, George Peck
CATHODE TRIMMERS Harry Jones, Harry Mennitz
CIRCULATORS “Darky” Howe, Peter Morrison
CLERK/TIMEKEEP(P)ER Rupert Uren
CRANE CHASER Pop Brodie
CRANE DRIVERS Syd Valentine, Frank Walsh
LEAD BURNER Fred Clarke
MOBILE CRANE DRIVER Ken Volprecht ASSISTANT: Perc Quarry Senior
RELIEVING CIRCULATOR AND TANK INSPECTOR Charlie Callow
TANK CLEANERS Harold Hannigan, Jack Hannigan
TANK INSPECTORS Ernie Burton, Jack Holstein, Syd McKenna
The gold and silver contained in the anodes of copper, during the electrolytic process [were] deposited on the bottom of the tanks of sulphuric acid in the form of a black sludge. Periodically the tanks were drained of acid and the black sludge flushed to a filter plant where it was washed and dried into a powder. This was put into 44-gallon drums, sealed and transported to Port Kembla, NSW. With the cathode copper sheets, to control the level of copper in the warm sulphuric acid, it was pumped to a series of tanks that had copper sheets suspended in them. As the sulphuric acid cooled, copper sulphate (bluestone) formed on the cooper sheets. The bluestone was bagged and forwarded to the fertiliser works in Melbourne.
THE COMSTOCK RAIL AMBULANCE
from Jock Inglis
The ambulance consisted of a fairly large carriage, with room for two stretchers and seating for the attendant. On one side of the carnage was a sliding door which gave access to the interior and at each end a break wheel and platform as the gradient was all down hill the ambulance needed no prime mover, and its speed was controlled by the two brakes. And on arrival at Queenstown another ambulance would be waiting to transport the patient to the hospital. One day my mate and I were loading a shaft set onto a bolster to be taken underground when the travelling foreman, Alec Blair, told us to get the ambulance and delivery a maternity case into Queenstown. We braked the ambulance down to the village and picked up the patient and her lady attendant. About halfway, we misjudged our speed on a long bend, and the ambulance started to slow down, both of us jumped off our brake platforms and pushed to keep the ambulance moving. Half-way round the bend, I noticed the ambulance was starting to move quicker. When my mate yelled out, “Good God, woman, get back inside the ambulance, we don’t want an accident here.” Both patient and attendant had left the ambulance to help push it round the bend. We duly arrived in Queenstown where the hospital ambulance was waiting and we handed over our patient safe and well.
I REMEMBER THE SMELTERS
By Jock Inglis
On the closure of the Comstock mine, I was transferred to the middle floor section of the smelters. Here, the concentrated copper (greens) was conveyed to the furnace by an overhead mono-rail crane. The “charge” consisted of coke, slag, lime and silica. This was wheeled manually on to the feed plates, and if the crane broke down the greens, also had to be wheeled in two-wheeled carts known as “banana carts”. As this job was not liked, two men were assigned to it every shift in a rotation system, others were put to work in various odd jobs.
The Head Feeder and his Assistant were responsible for the correct feeding of the furnace and had control over the two wheelers and the crane driver. I worked three shifts, 7 days a week. When I came on shift I never knew what job I would be doing, this I did not like. Myself and G. Smith, who was in the same frame of mind, applied to take the job of wheeling on permanently. The other men were agreeable to this as they detested the job. After some time, the Head Feeder, Pop Flood, reported to the Superintendent “Snowy” Wilsdon of the improvement on the furnace since we took on the wheeling. (Here I may mention that this job was known as the “light end” – why I do not know.) Mr Wilsdon declared “the light end” a permanent position with a small raise in wages. IN no time, each shift had their permanent wheelers. In due course I was promoted to Assistant Feeder then Head Feeder. This was hot and hard work but the money was good, and I also worked all my rosters while the smelters were in blast.
SUPERINTENDENT Mr. Don “Snowy” Wilsdon
DAY BOSS G. Eaves
SHIFT BOSSES Jack Lahl, J. Ward, Harold Steele, Oscar Powell, Clive Lucas.
Others that I remember – Jack Peters, Allen Thomas, H. Crane, R. Sherrin, Rex “Whoopsy” Powell, B. Graham, Donahue boys, Bill Clarke, Roy Essen, Harry Littlejohn, Frank Prowse.
The smelters ceased operation in 1969.
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The two profiles of two committee members have been compiled from reliable sources and the astute observations of the Secretary.
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If there are two sides to every question – why is there only one answer?