Caps of the Mining Ministries

The insignia on this cap identifies it as belonging to an individual occupying a middle level supervisory position after uniforms were re-introduced in 1976. The cap was constructed in accordance to standard military visor cap patterns, with different cloth colors and emblems. The crown is black cloth while the band is black velvet (similar to the Communications Service visor elsewhere on my site - but that cap had a plain black cloth band). All piping is in a bright medium blue (KGB color). The one-piece cockade with crossed miners' hammers is pinned to the band while gold buttons embossed with the same crossed hammers hold gold cords of a supervisor in place. The visor is different from the standard mass production type and closely resembles that of U.S. military visors or some merchant marine visors. It is a "sandwich" of simulated leather and plastic, stronger and much thicker than those usually seen on Soviet caps. This typically signifies the owner was a higher-ranking official that had the cap specially made for him. Inside, the cap is tagged with a maker's label indicating its manufacture by a mining industry clothing firm. Scarce

Mining Ministries
Supervisor
1976-1991

A summer version of the supervisor's cap shown above, this one differs in that the crown fabric is a medium gray (like later militia caps) instead of the more common black or dark blue. The remainder of the cap follows the construction already described above - a mining supervisor's cockade is pinned to the black velvet band that is in turn set off with bright blue piping. Gold supervisors' cords are held in place by brass crossed-hammer embossed buttons. The visor is also of the heavier style found on the other supervisor cap. Unfortunately, there are no maker marks except for size, but again, I would estimate this cap dates from the late 1980's. Scarce

Mining Ministries
Supervisor
1976-1991

A variant of the above cap, made at a uniform factory in Odessa. Although both caps are similar overall, this one has a crown made of much darker gray fabric with a black velvet band and bright blue piping. It also has the issue-type fiberboard visor instead of the non-standard one used on the cap above. The rest is standard - gold cords of a supervisor, a one-piece mining ministry cockade with a blue center, and gilt Railways-type buttons. Railways' buttons were apparently very commonly substituted on these caps for the similar mining industry buttons. Scarce

Mining Ministries
Senior Supervisor - Minister
1976-1991

This cap and uniform reportedly belonged to a unidentified Mining Minister - from a friend's collection in Russia. Both items are in lighter-weight summer gray cloth. The cap is essentially the same as that worn by the middle grade officials discussed below, but with the addition of gilt metal leaves pinned through the leather visor. Since this cap belonged to a "highest" grade of officials (ministers and their deputies) I would have expected embroidered ones - but I suspect this cap was actually the minister's "old" one from his senior-grade rank. The blue piping and black velvet band are standard. The gold filigree cords are held in place by generals' buttons embossed with the Great Seal of the USSR. The cockade is that worn by all senior mining industry personnel during this period. Minister rank is indicated on the uniform on the collar tabs and on the sleeves. Scarce

Mining Ministries
Worker/Junior Supervisor
1976

This cap represents that worn by a worker or junior official of mining industry. It has a black crown, black band, and bright blue piping; along with a black plastic visor and chinstrap. The band is wool, vice velvet, as was normal for lower-grade caps. The strap is held in place with two gilt Army buttons with embossed star instead of the authorized crossed hammers of the Mining Industry, a commonly seen substitution. The emblem representing two crossed miners' hammers was replace at some point by one surrounded by a wreath. Available

State Committee for the Council of Ministers for Supervision of Industrial Safety and Mining Inspection
Inspector
1986-1991

Another cap related to the USSR mining industry, this one was worn by personnel of the State Committee for the Council of Ministers for Supervision of Industrial Safety and Mining Inspection (Gorthekhnadzor). (Quite a title!). Apparently all ranks wore the same style cap and emblem. Like that of mining institutes of the period, it has a dark blue crown (vice black) with medium blue piping and a black velvet band. All personnel wore gold cords held in place above a black plastic or fiberboard visor. This example has army-style buttons, but mining buttons were regulation. The rather complex emblem pinned to the band distinguishes the cap from other related ones. This large one-piece emblem was used from 1986 until the end of the USSR. It consists of a fluted-edge oval with a crossed hammer and wrench device on a blue painted field surrounded by a gold wreath and topped by a red star. A smaller but very similar version of this emblem was in use prior to 1986. Available-Scarce

Militarized Mine Rescue Units (VGSCh)
Worker
1970's

This cap was worn by so-called "militarized" mine rescue units. In light of the USSR's vast natural resources, mining operations have always been a critical element of its economic development. Unfortunately, with this came a host of mining disasters, especially since production quotas were usually placed ahead of safety concerns at individual sites. As a result, organized full time mining rescue units were formed to save personnel and salvage property at mine and tunnel cave-ins and explosions.

The cap shown here is representative of caps worn by workers and junior supervisors after 1976. The color scheme is the same as for other mining organizations - black top, with black band and blue piping. As was commonly found on worker-level caps - the band is wool, vice the velvet used by higher ranking officials. The visor and strap are black plastic. The insignia is the same as other mining workers of the period - but with the addition of a 13 mm gilt star pinned through the crown. Sometime in the 1980's, the separate crossed hammers and star were combined into a single emblem (as seen on the chart). The cap to the right shows a 1980's summer supervisor's cap of this organization, with the mininng cockade and a larger 20 mm star. Also shown is a senior mine-rescue supervisor wearing his winter uniform. Available-Scarce

Honorary Miner
1970's-1990's

This cap (from a Russian collection) belongs to an "Honorary Miner" - and is part of an elaborate black and green uniform authorized for wear by personnel thus honored. Unfortunately, I don't know the criteria of this award or who exactly was eligible for receiving it. The cap is black with bright green piping and is privately made with the thicker black visor and wider-than-normal piping. The special honorary miner emblem differs in its detail from the similar mining workers' badge. Especially interesting are the black braided cords - which I have not seen before. Rare