Given the rudimentary facilities and the number of miners getting washed and changed simultaneously, I’m guessing it was partly a space-saving measure. Maybe it was also an attempt to keep belongings clean and safe from pilfering. (I think each chain could be locked in place individually.)
It is both space saving & anti-pilfering, especially the latter. The military, like all large, impersonal organizations, has the same problem - with theft severely punished owing to the disunity it causes. In the dangerous world of industrial mining, the last thing the union and management needed was workers fearing their belongings would be nicked when they are half a mile deep in the ground.
The Industrial Decay site is amazing. Thanks.
Posted by: alan b | June 01, 2009 at 09:20
Wow. It's like a set from Hellraiser.
Posted by: newbie | June 01, 2009 at 12:26
The ID site has some gorgeous shots. A great find.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideon_thecat/3531131733/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrej/3567390155/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideon_thecat/3529172684/
Posted by: Anna | June 01, 2009 at 14:59
"Wow. It's like a set from Hellraiser. "
Oooh, yes! Creepy...
Why suspended storage, though, rather than 'locker' type, I wonder?
Posted by: JuliaM | June 01, 2009 at 19:45
Julia,
Given the rudimentary facilities and the number of miners getting washed and changed simultaneously, I’m guessing it was partly a space-saving measure. Maybe it was also an attempt to keep belongings clean and safe from pilfering. (I think each chain could be locked in place individually.)
Posted by: David | June 01, 2009 at 20:10
Ah, that makes sense, I suppose.
Posted by: JuliaM | June 02, 2009 at 05:19
It is both space saving & anti-pilfering, especially the latter. The military, like all large, impersonal organizations, has the same problem - with theft severely punished owing to the disunity it causes. In the dangerous world of industrial mining, the last thing the union and management needed was workers fearing their belongings would be nicked when they are half a mile deep in the ground.
Posted by: Timo the Squid | June 02, 2009 at 18:09