Miner's lamp
code: LVSAV1985.039
Description
Brass miners carbide acetylene cap lamp marked "Premier British Made".
Inflammable gases were seldom found in shale mines. Once an area of a mine had been tested and found free from the presence of methane, miners were allowed to use open flamed lamps. This carbide lamp was clipped onto a helmet or soft cap. The lamp unscrews into two pieces, the bottom chamber was filled with calcium carbide, and the upper one filled with water. The lever on the top of the lamp controls the rate at which water drips into the bottom chamber and hence the rate at which acetylene gas is produced. The gas escapes through a jet at the front which can be lit by a sparking thumbwheel. Carbide lamps were used in shale mines into the 1950's.
William G Thomson worked for Scottish Oils Ltd for 46 years as a fitter at Hopetoun Oil Works, Pumpherston Oil Works / Pumpherston Oil Refinery, Hopetoun No 5 Mine, Hopetoun No 6 (Glendevon) Mine, Hopetoun No 35 (Threemiletown) Pit and Grangemouth Refinery