News on Screen

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 11th Year

Issue

Issue No.

4

Date Released

Dec 1957

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. PIER DRILL
• 2. MODEL MAN
• 3. OUT FOR A SPIN
• 4. SEA CHANGE

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: retired Northumbrian stoker John Bennett with the working model colliery he has built
NCB Commentary - Stoker John Bennett has a shed at the bottom of his garden.
Now retired, after 18 years in the pit, his leisure is taken up in tending a model he built as far back as 1929.
Here it is - a complete model colliery of the 1920’s.
Powered by one boiler supplying steam to two main engines for winding and for haulage, the model colliery runs itself automatically.
John Bennett took seven years to build it ... he is still finding room for improvement.
Here’s the winding engine, complete with Frankenstein at the controls!
The surface tub circuit loads empties one after another on to the cage.
Over the weigh bridge roll the full tubs from pit bottom to be tipped before they are picked up on a creeper. Haulage engine and stables are in the background.
So much for pit top. Underground tubs are slipped on to rope haulage while ponies and model men keep the coal moving.
There’s even action on the model face.
John Bennett’s achievement is one worthy of a wider public.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 4th November 1957.

Keywords

Arts and crafts; Mining; Toys and models

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.12 No.138 April 1958, p168.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board