General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

pants; cargo pants

Patents

N/A

General Description

Tan polyester and cotton (?) pants have brass-colour metal zipper and snap closure; interior synthetic button at waist; Velcro closures on pockets; elastic inserts at waist.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

115.0 cm

Width

60.0 cm

Height

5.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Mining and Metallurgy

Category

Personal gear

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Atlantco

Country

Indonesia

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Haiti

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Presumably purchased/used between 2010 and 2013.

Canada

Item from comprehensive collection of tools and technologies used by a Canadian prospector, who worked in the exploration division of Newmont Mining Corporation in Haiti between 2010 and 2013. This collection reflects three aspects of the modern Canadian mining, crucial to the understanding of this sector: mobility of the workforce, ethnicity in the workforce, and globalization. The mining workforce has been highly mobile on both community and individual levels. Entire towns formed around mining operations and died or changed their character when the resources were exhausted. Mining professionals, especially in the field of mineral exploration, work in various often remote locations around the globe, and cover long distances in their daily work. The items donated to the Museum well represent the type of tools and technologies necessary to working outdoors, in remote locations, and a tropical climate. Ethnicity continues to play a role in the sector’s hiring practices. In this particular case, an employer looked for a recent graduate, bilingual prospector, educated in Canada, who could also communicate in Haitian-Creole. A set of hiring criteria in mining is often very specific and difficult to meet by Canadian graduates, but essential to succeeding in exploration projects conducted abroad. Donated artifacts reflect Haitian-Creole cultural context of Newmont operations. [Ref. 1]

Function

To offer wearer limited protection for surface of lower torso and legs, and to provide additional warmth.

Technical

Work clothes (2 T-shirts and 2 pairs of pants purchased in Canada, and 2 shirts and 2 pairs of pants purchased in Haiti) show the difference in quality and durability between clothes purchased prior to the departure and clothes purchased during exploration work in Haiti. Explorers who work in remote locations and tropical climate need to invest in the right type of clothing that is durable (reinforced hem and stitching) yet relatively light, can be washed daily in cold water, and will dried quickly outdoors, and will offer maximum protection from the sun and rain. Before leaving Canada, Ralph bought inexpensive, but sturdy t-shirts and pants in Wal-Mart. The clothes seemed durable, but wore out very quickly, within just a few weeks, and were not comfortable to wear in the field. The clothing was not appropriate for this type of work and the tropical climate. Ralph was forced to invest in professional grade clothing, which he purchased in Haiti. Clothes purchased in Haiti: Eotac Operator grade shirt (2014.0090), made in China; Tru-Spec shirt (2014.0203.1), made in Indonesia; Tru-Spec pants (2014.0204.1); 5.11 Tactical Series, style 74273 pants. Eotac, which since 2011 no longer produces clothes under this name, was part of the Freedom Group, renamed Remington Outdoor Company Inc., involved in a controversy over gun production and sales in the US. Eotac had mostly military line of clothing, also popular among hunters. Tru-Spec is a brand name of Atlantco, which produces quality professional clothing for military, firefighters, police, etc. since 1950. 5.11 has a line of products similar to Atlantco’s, and targets the same clientele. It is named after a number on a Yosemite rock climbing scale (“After thorough inspection, you conclude this move is obviously impossible; however, occasionally someone actually accomplishes it.” http://www.511tactical.com). [Ref. 1]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"TRU-SPEC", "W/L/ US 34/34/ UK 34/ FR 42/ DE 50" and "VPO-034545" printed on tags sewn to inside waistband back. "TRU-SPEC" stitched into belt loop at back of waistband. NB: Tag sewn to inside front pocket presumably bears details re: composition, washing instructions, etc.: is faded/illegible.

Missing

Appears complete.

Finish

Tan polyester and cotton (?) pants have brass-colour metal zipper and snap closure; interior synthetic button at waist; Velcro closures on pockets; elastic inserts at waist.

Decoration

N/A