GLOSTER GETTER

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 8th Year

Issue

Issue No.

9

Date Released

May 1955

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1SURFACE TRAINING
2. 2GLOSTER GETTER
3. 3HOTHOUSE

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 3

Summary

BFI synopsis: the Gloster Getter Cutter loader, Cresswell
NCB Commentary - There’ll always be a need for men who can use a shovel in the mines but mechanisation at the coalface has been making giant strides in British pits.
Of the machines which can not only cut coal but load it as well we have seen quite a number in past issues of Mining Review. You may remember them by their distinctive names, - the Meco-Moore, the Waffler, the Anderton Shearer Loader, the Dosco Miner.
Now, at Creswell Colliery, another successful cutter-loader is operating, the Gloster Getter.
The Getter literally cuts out blocks of coal with its 2 vertical and 3 horizontal cutting jibs.
She’s being set up at the start of her cut and a chute which will feed the coal from behind the Getter on to the Conveyor alongside is being manhandled into place.
At three or four feet a minute the five jibs on the machine bite deeply into the coalface.
Now the large slabs start coming off. Supports are taken down in front of her as she moves along the face and temporary props are set immediately behind the machine to support the newly exposed roof.
As the Gloster Getter moves past, the conveyor is snaked over behind it.
With the Getter there’s no need to turn the machine round when it reaches the end of the 150 yard face. All that’s necessary is to reverse the shearing jibs and the coal chute, and it can cut its way straight back.

Keywords

Transport; Science and technology; Industry and manufacture; Mining

Locations

Derbyshire; England; Creswell

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board