2018
UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT
James H Fletcher
ack in 1937, creaky, unstable timbers
groaned under the weight of shaky mine
roofs. Small, open cap lamp flames lit the
way for hard-working miners. Caged canaries
alerted crews to toxic air. In today's world, the
difference is night and day.
B
James H Fletcher began his company intent
on developing technology that would greatly
improve mine productivity and reduce personnel
risk by using rubber-tyre, non-track-mounted
vehicles in underground applications. In 1938,
the company showed its first products at a coal
show in Cincinnati; a rubber-tyre tractor and
drop-bottom conveyor.
Since that time, J.H. Fletcher & Co.™ has
operated with a singular vision: to work with a
vigilant focus on finding ways to improve mining
processes and reducing risk for the people who
work there. Look at the timeline.
James Herbert Fletcher, Chairman of the
Board and President of J.H. Fletcher & Co, 1937-
1960, gave dynamic leadership to the
organisation, and as a consulting engineer, was
at the forefront of the mining industry.
In 1907 he entered Armour Institute of
Technology. These were the early days of
electricity, and patents covering automobile
starting and lighting systems (forerunners of
more than 20 others) were granted in his name,
even before his graduation as an electrical
engineer in 1911.
Moving into the field of power generation, he
shortly became associated with a new firm of
engineering consultants, Allen & Garcia Co.
Growing with the organisation, he headed the
Underground Mining and Report departments,
and was treasurer of the company until
establishing his own consulting practice in
1936.
Mining men, both in this country and abroad,
came to know his capabilities as a straight
thinker, constantly ahead of the field. His
opinion and studies influenced many of the
finest and most progressive mining installations
of the 20th Century.
In 1937, to manufacture equipment needed
for furthering of rubber-tyre haulage, he
organised J.H. Fletcher & Co.
He lived during the transition of the coal
industry from the day of the "two track tipple"
to the technological marvels of present mines.
He was a part of the fraternity of men ever
pressing forward, building together.
The first company office was in Room 749,
McCormick Building, 332 S. Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois.
HoF 8 International Mining | JUNE 2019 Supplement
Product timeline
1937 - Roof Supported by
timbers prepared on-site,
placed by hand. Fletcher ®
opens for business.
1938 - A rubber-tyred,
battery powered tractor, the
first Fletcher ® product,
demonstrated at Cincinnati Coal Show.
1939 - First Shuttle car with 4-wheel steer and
elevating conveyor.
1940 - First Fletcher ® timbering machine.
1947 - Opened Office in Huntington, WV.
1950 - Early 50s, first shelf propelled roof bolter.
Fletcher ® patents internal dust collection system.
In 1947, the operating office became Room
1101, West Virginia Building, Huntington, West
Virginia, with a move in 1949 to rooms 701 & 702.
The plant at 707 West 7th Street was occupied
on December 1, 1950. This consisted of a 40' x
25' manufacturing space, with offices above, and
an attached 40' x 55' unfinished building.
As additional space was required, the plant
expanded:
1951 - The attached building was finished.
1954 - A 40' x 130' assembly building was
constructed to the east.
1955 - The 1954 addition was duplicated.
1957 - A 20' x 120' office and machine shop was
built across the north end.
1966 - The 80' x 90' warehouse was completed.
1970 - The 2nd floor office was expanded over
the 40' x 55' building.
1976 - A 50' x 60' welding building was added.
1978 - The Benjamin Plant was purchased.
1980 - The southeast corner of plant #1 was
squared off.
1982 - Modernisation facility was erected at the
Benjamin Plant
1990 - Purchased approximately 10 acres
(4 ha) of land in Altizer with office, warehouse
and one manu-facturing building.
1991 - Added the Sales and Engineering building.
1994 - Modernisation building was constructed.
1995 - Added on to the modernisation building
2001 - Added addition to the production building
and closed the Benjamin Plant. Two later
additions followed. Presently, the J. Robert
Fletcher Industrial Facility, has approximately
153,901 ft 2 (14,298 m 2 ) of manufacturing space
and 28,000 ft 2 of office space.
1950 - Late 50s, first dual head roof bolter.
1957 - First dual-boom face drill.
1960 - Early 60s, the first Fletcher ® track
tampers and first Fletcher ® ANFO loaders.
1960 - Mid 60s, first protective operator's canopy.
1960 - Mid 60s, first four-head roof bolters.
1960 - Late 60s, first Temporary Roof Support
patented.
1970 - First Longhole Degasification Drill.
1980 - Early 80s, first Fletcher ® Drill Jumbo.
1980 - Mid 80s, first Fletcher ® Mobile Roof Supports
1980 - Mid 80s, first Remote Control and
Operator-Up Roof Bolters
1980 - Mid 80s, first Bolters with Walk-Thru Chassis
1980 - Mid 80s, first Fletcher ® Scaling Machine
1990 - Mid 90s, first On-Board Microprocessor
Controlled Feedback System
1990 - Late 90s, first Bolter with Material Handling
2000 - Early 2000s, first 50' High Reach Scaler
2000 - Early 2000s, first Fletcher Dual Drill Jumbo
2002 - First Automated Roof Mapping System
2006 - First Fletcher Diesel Tractors