Carbide Lamp

Carbide lamps, or acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene (C2H2) which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide (CaC2) with water. Acetylene gas lamps were used to illuminate buildings, as lighthouse beacons, and as headlights on motor-cars and bicycles. Portable carbide lamps, worn on the hat or carried by hand, were widely used in mining in the early twentieth century. The compartment at the bottom was filled with chunks of carbide and the top reservoir, with water. I come from a long line of coal miners. My father worked in the mines for 42 years. My Grandfather for 40. My Grandfather-in-law for 40 plus years. I know they're all in heaven because they served their time in HELL! I tried to follow in my father's footsteps but found i was much too claustrophobic for that line of work. Even went to Mining school(required) and finished first in my class, but chickened out. Glad they figured out a safer way to individually light the mine. Open flame + Methane = BOOM! Hope you enjoy this piece of history. Jimbo