Shot Firing Exploders

These single shot exploders date from the 1950’s and were used on the Isaac Timmins civil engineering sites to blast rock in trenches.
From what I (John Myers) vaguely remember, The explosive (Gelignite) was about 1 inch in diameter and about 6 inches long, known as Pils and the detenators were a copper colour bundle of wire,known as dets, used to detonate the explosive.
The sequence of events was drill and clean out the holes, connect the detonator to the explosive, insert fully into the hole and fully fill (stem) the hole usually with clay, connect the exploder to the detenator with a length of cable. Cover the trench with weighted down tin sheets (to minimise any fly rock), retreat to the approved safe distance, give the necessary warnings and turn the exploder handle.
This work was carried out by a shotfirer of which there were many in those days from the coal mining industry.
In the 21st century these processes benefit from being highly regulated and are rarely used other than in Quarries.
The Gelignite and the Detenators were stored seperaely in special plywood boxes with sliding lids and with no metal
parts.
Happy, if not dangerous days.