The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-09
A MOST ORIGINAL SET
James Bray Has Some Very
Handsome Mining Tools.
HIS OWN MANUFACTURE
Three Pole Picks and Four Candlesticks
That Are Marvels Of Ingenuity-He
Also Has Stick Which Has
Puzzled 5000 People.

What probably constitutes the hand
soonest and most original set of miners
tools in the city, ii not IL the West, is
in the possession of James Bray, re-
cent arrival from Aspen, Col. Mr.. Bray.
who is an expert blacksmith, as his
work shows, made each article of the
collection himself. and We're he any
thing but the modest man he is, the
praise which every exhibition of the
tools evokes would turn his head to an
inordinate and dangerous degree
The tools are seven in number and
consist of three pole picks. of the kind
used by experts to break off samples of
rock, and four candlesticks. The eyes
and straps of two of the picks are
forged from one piece of steel and the
manner in which the wood of the
handles is worked into the straps is
quite puzzle. Particularly is this the
case with one of the picks, which has
four straps, and shows the same num-
Der of apparent divisions in the handle.
One mining man, after carefully exam
lining the tool, gave it as his opinion
that the wood was simply inlaid. The
prompt offer of Mr.. Bray TO bet $50 that
only one piece of wood constituted the
handle and the straps were forged
around and his Willingness to allow the
tool tn be cut to pieces in proof of his
assertion. caused the other man to
change his mind and he declined to bet.
As much ingenuity as is displayed in
the manufacture of the picks. it is COM
pletely overshadowed by that manifest
ed in the composition of the candle
sticks. One of them is made SO that ii
can be taken apart and fits into the
end of the handle of one Of the picks.
Another has regular pistol grip in
place of the ordinary loop or ring. and
can be closed up something after the
nj q f.Ia knife 4 fglN ~
ing with a spring fits over the socket
into which the candle is inserted and is
so arranged that as soon as the candle
is consumed even with the top of the
socket the cover flies forward and eX-
tinguishes the candle.
In addition MI. Bray has still another
folding candlesticll made to be carried
in the pocket. 1t is so arranged that
either the hook or spike can be used.
or both can be folded back and this
stick carried in the hand. Still another
stick, which is covered by a patent, has
knife attachment connected with the
hook for cutting fuse an arrangement
for splitting the fuse and ripping open
the paper that covers giant powder.
in case it is found necessary to crowd
1t into small hcle, and also an appl-
ance for crimpng the cap. This stick
is also provided with the aut omatic eX-
tinguisher.
So far as novelty is concerned. the
gem of the collection. perhaps. is a fold
ing stick with a horn handle and is
called the puzzler." A puzzler it is
indeed, for as yet nobody has been
found able to open it. although. accord
ing to Mr.. Bray. fully 5000 people have
attempted the feat. Two miniature
copies of the first mentioned folding
stick complete the collection. One of
them. when closed, is less than one
inch in length and can be worn as a
watch charm, while the other is a trihe
larger and heavier