Yes I know, this probably doesn't qualify as a pressure lamp, but still equally cool. I just got an old one made by Justrite. Mechanically it's in good condition and fires right up. However, when tilted it leaks water through a seam at the top that looks like it never was soldered. Before I go ahead and solder it up I want to ask those more familiar with these things, is this rear top seam normally left open? I'll try to post a picture of it.
I collect carbide lamps, and yes some gaps where kept as this acted as a vent off incase to much water got in to lower chamber and then out gas through the water.
I've often thought about getting a carbide lamp just to try one out. I'm actually a little too scared to bring one into my life because if I like it... ah, I'll need to get others.
Indeed, so you'd better stay out! They are very addictive. I just tested a couple of table lamps many years ago, just to see how well they worked. And they did work well! So nowadays, many years later, I find myself swamped with them... I did actually do a rummage through the "lamp room" in the basement only a couple of months ago, so now I atleast have the crappy ones stored away in large boxes. Out of sight, and less space taking, but still accessible if I need a spare part for a better lamp. I'm no fan of miner- or bicycle lamps. I prefer table lamps and lanterns. They are really useful, and actually pretty practical when a decent but silent light is needed.
Christer, Were all carbide lamps miner lamps? I've seen some very nice looking ones with decent shades. You seem to have a few there that look to be reasonably ornate lamps, not the rugged type suitable for mining. I suppose there were offices set up underground and having a lamp with a decent shade would have been needed. I realise carbide lamps were used on bikes and cars so there were other uses for carbide lamps outside of mines but were they manufactured as a home lighting lamp?
Yes, they were used as home lighting during both world wars here since paraffin, and other fossil fuels were rationed. Calcium carbide, on the other hand, was easy to produce within the country, hence the wide variety of indoor lamp models in Sweden. I like K.F.E.'s models. They are pretty versatile with the lyre hanger, but still with either an opal globe or another kind of shade to make it useable. Like this one. Or these.
Christer, The first lamp you link to is one very nice looking lamp. OK, you suspect the shade is a replacement but the one on it works well. The others you link to are pretty impressive too. That is certainly a very handsome collection of lamps you have. It is very easy to see how one could be sucked into collecting them.
Carbide lamps were not ideal for coal mines on account of the risks of igniting methane and coal dust, both of which are explosive. Carbide lamps were widely used in mines other than coal mines, as such those for metallic ores or salt. Those who explore caves and potholes favoured carbide lamps until recently. Carbide table lamps were less common. Prior to the availability of electricity, some country houses used carbide lighting, not portable lamps but a central system that reacted calcium carbide and water to produce the acetylene to be piped around the house. Various designs of acetylene generator existed and these were fully automatic, producing the gas at the required rate whether a single lamp or dozens were in use. The carbide was placed in a basket suspended in a water vessel, contained in an outer air tight container. As the gas was produced, it displaced the water into another part of the apparatus and thereby stopped or slowed the gas production. As the gas was used the water level would rise until gas production resumed. The main danger was in neglecting to replenish the carbide during daylight. Any opening of the gas generator to add more carbide tended to vent a volume of acetylene, harmless in daylight but very dangerous if any light was nearby. Some lighthouses used acetylene for both the main lantern, and also for domestic lighting of the living quarters. The equipment was said to be simple and robust, at least one polar expedition used gas lights from an acetylene generator to light their base camp hut.
We have a great big acetylene generator on the ship I work on. It is all automated with loads of sensors and stuff. However I am still worried about fires and too much water getting in there. The gas is used for our pipe welding operations. The generator fills a 20' container.
Owwww. I'm looking for a carbide table lamp do you wanna swap or trade even if I get a box of bits to make one good one. Regards Lee.
@MarkC I like that idea! Can we shrink it a bit then I don't have to keep paying BOC for cylinders of the stuff.
