Walter Sylvester

The family later moved to Fegg Hayes in north Staffordshire, and Walter was a clerk at Chatterley Whitfield colliery.

During longwall mining, wooden pit props were recovered for re-use as the coal face moved forward; this was done by knocking them out with a hammer, which was a hazardous operation.

It became widely used in mining; as well as for removing props, it was used for pulling derailed wagons back onto tracks.

[3] Sylvester left his job at Chatterley Whitfield and manufactured the device; he had a workshop in Tunstall, Staffordshire.

[1] The Sylvester device was eventually banned by the Coal Board in 1978, as modern techniques made it unnecessary, and it could be dangerous if used improperly.