Photo - mechanical cutter in use at Breich Pit.
code: LVSAV2019.123
Description
B&W negative copied in 1990 from official albums then held at Grangemouth refinery.
Faced with acute labour shortages during World War II further attempts were made mechanise the mining process. Attempts to introduce mechanical cutters and long wall working were abandoned in 1945 after breakdown of machinery. This photograph may show a subsequent use of cutting machinery, introduced in 1950 into Philpstoun No.1 mine and used for undercutting the shale face prior to blasting.