" piece boxes"

[bogiesdey]

Hiya Yawl, first time EVER I have taken part in something like this, I know it's probably a daft subject but I have always wondered what grub containers were( or) called. See in Scotland we called them piece boxes, they were shaped to allow plain bread to fit in them,curved at one end and straight at the other,one bit slid over the other to keep out dust, or at one time rats and mice,as I say it's daft but it's something that I have always wondered about, it's like your tools,we called shovels,mashes etc "graith" just curious that's all. The reason I'm wondering is that a lot of the mining terms we used are disappearing and it's a shame but as all the pits have gone so has the pit talk. On another matter I might be going to nottingham for a couple of weeks , is there any old pitheads or building worth going to look at, mabye take some photos or have a root around in.

[shropshirebloke]

Jan 23, 2013 7:26:54 GMT -5 bogiesdey said:

I have always wondered what grub containers were( or) called.

They were called snap tins round our way (I've also heard "bait tin") - and had a wire handle you could hook onto your belt. First aiders used the same tins painted red to carry a basic first aid kit.

I know what you mean about the old terms disappearing - when's the last time anybody heard of a coffin dan or a puffler?

[John]

I don't recall anyone at the pits I worked at with snap tins, everyone had a snap bag, those old army surplus gas mask bags.

Old pit heads in Notts left standing, Bestwood Colliery has a restored vertical steam engine and headstocks at Bestwood Park Estate, then there's the old Brinsley Colliery tandem headstocks near Eastwood for starters, Brinsley was at the Lound Hall training centre in bits for many years, then with a grant, restored and installed at the old Brinsley Colliery site over the shaft seals were it once proudly stood for around 100 hundred years.

[colly0410]

You used to be able to root around in the Bestwood pit winding house but they've fenced it all off now to keep the vandals out. Shame, I loved rooting round it when I lived in Bestwood many years ago. You can get near enough to take photos though.

We called then snap bags as John says from the army shop, & when the shout went up "SNAP TIME," everyone downed tools & the grub came out. My Mother-in-law who's Dad was a miner still calls food "snap."

[bogiesdey]

Thanks for the info, it would be interesting to find out the different area's names for stuff, you know, some called the area left after the face advanced 'the goaf' we called it the waste, In Durham I believe you called the bloke you worked with a " marra " where we were we called them all neighbours. Pronounced. " nee'bur. It's just a shame that this is all becoming as scarce as rocking horse s** t. If I get to notts I will try to visit some old sites and get some pics,
Anyroad thanks again

[shropshirebloke]

The waste or goaf was known as the "gob" in Shropshire, and the smell of a smouldering fire in the waste as "gob stink".

[John]

I always knew it as the Gob or Gobbins, in Oz they call it the Goaf, here stateside the Gob.