Lancashire man invents pit cage safety device. Mr Ralph Barton, of Wickham Road, Deane, Bolton, Lancashire, ex colliery rope splicer, has invented a pit cage safety device, designed to arrest the descent of a colliery cage in the event of the winding rope braking. It is attached on two sides to the top of the cage, and the weight of the latter causes it to act instantaneously on the working model made by Mr Barton, when the rope suspending the cage is severed. The device has been tested over 500 times without failure at all heights on the miniature pit shaft. Mr Barton, whose hobby is modelmaking, has taken out a provisional patent for his invention, which was conceived in 1918. Now the inventor feels that in the new era of coalmining, just beginning, there is a future for such devices, and he has faith in Mr Shinwell (Minister of Fuel and Power), who instructed one of His Majesty's Inspectors of mines to go to Bolton to test the invention. This device is also suitable for lifts, hoists and elevators and in the near future. It is to be demonstrated to officials and safety research experts on one of the big colliery companies. Picture shows, Mr Ralph Barton with a pithead model on which he demonstrates his pit cage safety device. 17 July 1946