Cobalt in Timiskaming District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Cages
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 1, 2022
1. Cages Marker
The cage was a major improvement from the bucket. There was protection from falling objects with the cage hood and the cage also ran between timber guides, which prevented the swinging around in the shaft that sometimes happened with the bucket, which had no such guides. In addition cages were fitted with SAFETY DOGS which jammed into the guides if the rope snapped due to corrosion or some other type of damage.
Note that the floor of the cage has a piece of track set into it. This was aligned with the tracks at the various levels or stopping places in the shaft and it allowed cars to be rolled off and on the cage with materials and ore.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 47° 23.734′ N, 79° 41.115′ W. Marker is in Cobalt, Ontario, in Timiskaming District. It can be reached from Silver Street just north of Bunker Lane, on the right when traveling north. The marker shaft cage are in the interpretive park on the north side of the Pan Silver Headframe. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21 Silver
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Regionally, this marker is in Northeastern Ontario and specifically in Northern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Battery Tramming Motor (a few steps from this marker); Slusher and Scraper (a few steps from this marker); Side Dump Cars (a few steps from this marker); The Mine Hoist (a few steps from this marker); Mucking Machine or Overshot Loader (a few steps from this marker); Tripod Drill (a few steps from this marker); Sinking Bucket (a few steps from this marker); Bar and Arm Drill (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cobalt.
Also see . . . The Descent into the Mine: A Journey into the Depths of the Earth.
(by William Wedgwood Hawkesworth,(Submitted on July 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)March 30, 2023) Excerpt: One of the most important components of an underground mine was the Skippy or cage, an elevator used to transport miners and material up and down the shaft. These cages served not only as a means of transportation for the miners but also as a way to hoist ore and waste rock to the surface.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 1, 20222. Cages MarkerIn the late 19th century, hoisting accidents made up a staggering 33% of mining fatalities. In 1889, new laws were enacted to improve the safety of these elevator cages, requiring the installation of iron roofs to protect miners from falling debris and safety gates to prevent them from accidentally plummeting down the shaft. They were slow to be implemented and despite these advancements, hoist accidents still accounted for 5% of mine fatalities in 1916.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 1, 2022
3. Shaft Cage
Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
