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Saucer-type Open Grease Lamps
The first type of mine light, the open saucer-type grease
lamp, was popular in the 1700's and was often decorated with
ornamental figures such as roosters. These figures acted as
good luck charms for the miner.
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Candles
Later, candles made of hard tallow became a popular source
of light within the mines. The candle-holder was adopted for
use in the mines as well. It consisted of a 3/8-inch iron
rod twisted into a looped handle at one end and a sharpened
point at the other. Often there was a hook on the holder and
when the point could not be driven into a suitable support,
the holder could be hung from any overhang or protrusion in
the mine.
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Oil Wick Lamps
As mining progressed, oil wick lamps became increasingly popular
because they were cheaper to burn than tallow candles and easier
to balance and carry in the mines. Manufactured between 1860
and 1920, these lamps differed in size and shape but operated
on the same basic principle.
A small conical font 1½ to 2½ inches tall and
about 1-inch in diameter held the fuel and a hinged snap cap
sealed the top. The long neck or spout extended up and outward
from one side on the font. Opposite the spout, a wire hook was
fastened to the font to fit on a miner's leather or cloth cap.
It looked like a small teapot with a brush hanging out the spout.
The wick brought the fuel from the font to the tip. |
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Safety
Lamps
The man who made the real breakthrough in this area was Sir
Humphry Davy when he invented what is known as the Davy Lamp
or a gauze-enclosed lamp. Although gauze alone could not guarantee
that the flame would not come into contact with gases outside
the screen, Sir Davy reasoned that a metal mesh would cool down
the flame before it came into contact with any fire damp. These
gases explode at certain temperatures but will extinguish a
flame that is cooler.
To prevent miners from opening their safety lamp underground,
considerable attention was paid to locks. Most safety lamps
were equipped with a padlock, keyed setscrews, melted soft-metal
locking inserts or magnetic spring-loaded latches.
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