ARCHIVED Questions and Answers
Miners Lamps [Index: Safety Lamp]
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Miners Lamps [Index: Safety Lamp] by Neal Graham
Posted: Nov. 23, 1998 @ 13:48.
[Posted by Secretary]
I am the director and curator of a small museum in the old coal mining town of Crested Butte, Colorado. I am trying to do some research on Safety Lamps that were used in the mines to detect gas, carbon monoxide and other dangerous situations. Does you book talk about these types of lamps, or if not, do you know where I might find information on them? Thanks in advance for your help.
Neal Graham, Crested Butte Mountain Heritage MuseumCan anyone help Neal out here? He's likely looking for post-Davy Safety Lamps, rather than the old open-flame "Frog Lamps" :: Fil ::
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On Nov. 27, 1998 @ 12:39, English Archbishop
wrote:
In the Derbyshire and Yorkshire coalfields, apart from the Davey Lamp and the earlier Stephenson Lamp, the miners bred canaries to take down the deep pits with them - when they stopped singing and dropped dead meant that there was a dangerous concentration of fire-damp - the miners could hear them whilst they worked and canary breeding and showning used to be a strong leisure activity amongst them. In fire-damp mines, either coal or lead mines in Derbyshire where I live, my father told me they used to "flash-off" firedamp by the use of candles - thus preventing dangerous concentrations. Light International Magazine is planning an article on miners safety lamps this year. The Armstrong safety lamp ad-cut from 1875 is shewn in the current issue - it was used in municipal gas-works as well as mines. Good luck with your research - John Claypole, Matlock, Derbyshire, England.
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On Dec. 05, 1998 @ 19:19, Bev and Rob Isdale
wrote:
Neil, it would be difficult to give even a reasonable account of the history of mining lamps in the space available here. Would it be possible for your local library to locate the following publications. A good starting point for your research may be a newspaper article I read recently. It was on page 25 (both issues) June 10 and 17, 1903, of the Australian newspaper, Town and Country Journal. It discusses the Royal Commission following the Mount Kembla (Australia) mine disaster, and it reprinted an article by James Ashworth M.E. as it appeared in the Canadian Mining Review of June 1903. The article discusses the background, development and operation of “safety” mining lamps such as the Clanny, Stevenson, Davey, Mueseler, Marsant, Wolf, and Hepplewhite-Gray. Also a textbook called Mining Educator (my best estimate of origin is England, pre World War 11) carries an article on page 526 by J.T.Gordon A.R.M.S., dealing briefly with the subject of safety lamps and Doctor William Reid Clanny’s 1812 water sealed bellows lamps. Also a small centenary publication, 1873-1973 by the Protector Lamp and Lighting Company Limited which commenced operation with the 1869 and 1872 Mining Lamp patents of William Edward Teale, Manchester, England. Regards, Bev and Rob Isdale, Brisbane, Australia.