Paybox

This wooden case was used by John Beaton in his capacity as the Paymaster for the Inverness Coal Mines between 1917 and 1952. Beaton use the case to carry around the miners’ pay and then distribute it to them on Saturday in cash. The case, as well as the records inside, were donated to the museum by his late wife and were accessioned in 1981.

A record of the miners pay would also be given in the envelope to them along with the cash. The miners had part of their wages deducted to pay for the church, the hospital, their rent, union dues, the Inverness Mine’s lawyer - not to mention war savings throughout WWI and WWII. This particular miner was paid on Friday, December 24, 1943 (Christmas Eve). This Government Control pay stub was accessioned this year. The year of donation is unknown.

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-John H. Beaton’s Pay Box - (A . 81 . 33 . 1)