Safety Lamps

Consolidated Coal Company Miners showing proper method of shooting coal, March 6, 1924.

Image of an Early wire gauze safety lamp
Davy-stayle Safety Lamp, Scranton, Pennsylvania, ca. late 1900s

The unforgiving darkness of a mine necessitated the use of a light. Before the 19th century, this forced miners to use open flames that had the potential to ignite the flammable gasses inside mines, causing lethal explosions. The flammable gas (firedamp) consisted mainly of methane and was most often found in coal mines. A need was seen to provide a safe light for miners to use in gaseous mines, and several inventors set upon the task independently. The three main progenitors of early safety lamps were Dr. William Reid Clanny, Sir Humphry Davy, and George Stephenson.

The first to set upon the idea of a safety lamp was Dr. William Clanny. As a physician in Sunderland, England, Clanny routinely attended to patients injured in mining explosions. In 1813 Clanny revealed his first design for a lamp in a paper to the Royal Philosophical Society.  Clanny enclosed the flame in glass with layers of water above and below the flame to "seal in the fire." A bellows supplied oxygen through a tube into the chamber to keep the flame alight. The bellows made this lamp impractical for daily use, and the flame was extinguished when tested in a mixture of inflammable gas.

George Stephenson was an English engineer who also began to try to invent a safe lamp in 1815. Through trial and error he came upon a design that worked. He encased the lamp in a glass cylinder, which was capped with a metallic cover with tiny holes. This was covered with a metal bonnet to further remove the flame from the dangers of the flammable gas.

Cutaway image of a Safety Lamp
Cutaway of a Safety Lamp

The Englishman Sir Humphry Davy was already a scientist and inventor of national renown when he seized upon the idea of a safety lamp in 1815. Davy had performed numerous scientific experiments on all natures of gasses, and this experience proved useful in battling the flammable firedamp found in gaseous mines. Davy’s invention was to surround the flame with a metallic mesh screen. Air could pass through the screen to fuel the flame, but if the holes in the screen were small enough, the mesh would cool the flame to such an extent that it could not ignite the gas surrounding the lamp. This design allowed the Davy lamp to serve as a test for the presences of certain gasses. If firedamp was present, the flame would burn with a blue “cap.” The length of the cap would determine how much gas was present. Some lamps in the collection are these so called “test lamps” with marks in the lamp's glass used to measure the flame’s cap. While flammable gasses were the most prominent threat in mines, asphyxiant gasses also presented a danger. Davy’s safety lamp helped with this issue as well, as miners could use Davy’s lamp to check for harmful concentrations of carbon dioxide, which would extinguish the flame at a non-lethal concentration, alerting the miner’s to unsafe working conditions.

Although safety lamps addressed the issue of mining explosions, they did not become as numerous as other mining lights for a variety of reasons. Many miners objected to using safety lamps because they were cumbersome, could not be worn on the cap, and gave a poor light, which all served to reduce a miner’s efficiency. Since most miners were paid by the pound, a reduction in efficiency amounted to a reduction in pay, and so the risk of an explosion was a chance miners were willing to take. Additionally, many miners objected to the false confidence instilled in many who used a safety lamp, and claimed that safety lamps obscured the real issue of unsafe working conditions and would hinder the development of improved ventilation needed in mines. Safety lamps had one unique advantage—they could safely burn off methane in mines which kept them in use by mine bosses even after the invention of battery-powered lamps.

Safety lamps were manufactured by a variety of companies from around 1815 until the 1930s, and incorporated elements of their design from Clanny, Stephenson, and Davy. Most of the safety lamps in the collection of the Division of Work and Industry include all three inventor’s contributions towards a safety lamp—a glass enclosure around the flame for more effective lighting, mesh uppers to cool the flame, and metal bonnet to better protect the flame from being extinguished by gusts or drafts in mines.

Miner's Safety Lamp

This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America around the late 19th century. This lamp is one of the most popular Wolf designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal “bonnet” exterior to protect the flame.
Description (Brief)
This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America around the late 19th century. This lamp is one of the most popular Wolf designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal “bonnet” exterior to protect the flame. The "permissible" engraved on the lamp denotes that the lamp was approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7765
catalog number
MHI-MN-7765
accession number
235037

Miner's Safety Lamp

This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America in the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America in the early 20th century. This lamp is one of the popular and effective Wolf Company designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze in the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior to protect the flame. The "permissible" engraved on the lamp means the lamp was approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7853
catalog number
MHI-MN-7853
accession number
240639

Miner's Safety Lamp

This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America in the early 20th century. This lamp is of the popular and effective Wolf Company design, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze in the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior to protect the flame.
Description (Brief)
This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America in the early 20th century. This lamp is of the popular and effective Wolf Company design, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze in the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior to protect the flame. The "permissible" engraved on the lamp means the lamp was approved by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-8760
catalog number
MHI-MN-8760
accession number
265669

Miner's Safety Lamp

This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America in the early 20th century. This lamp is one of the most popular Wolf designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior to protect the flame.
Description (Brief)
This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America in the early 20th century. This lamp is one of the most popular Wolf designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior to protect the flame. The "permissible" seal engraved on the lamp means the lamp was approved for use by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-8787
accession number
265669
catalog number
MHI-MN-8787

Miner’s Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This Clanny style safety lamp employs a wire gauze and a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This Clanny style safety lamp employs a wire gauze and a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-8763B
catalog number
MHI-MN-8763B
accession number
265669

Miner’s Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Everhart Brass Works of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This Clanny style safety lamp employs a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame and a wire gauze above to prevent combustion.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Everhart Brass Works of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This Clanny style safety lamp employs a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame and a wire gauze above to prevent combustion. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9407
catalog number
MHI-MN-9407
accession number
271425

Miner’s Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This safety lamp employs a wire gauze and a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame, with a metal bonnet over the top.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This safety lamp employs a wire gauze and a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame, with a metal bonnet over the top. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9439
accession number
277973
catalog number
MHI-MN-9439

Miner’s Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This Clanny style safety lamp employs wire gauze and a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This Clanny style safety lamp employs wire gauze and a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9770
accession number
304880
catalog number
MHI-MN-9770

Miner’s Safety Lamp

J. Davis & Son Ltd. of Baltimore, Maryland manufactured this Davy-style safety lamp in the late 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters.
Description (Brief)
J. Davis & Son Ltd. of Baltimore, Maryland manufactured this Davy-style safety lamp in the late 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-8762
accession number
265669
catalog number
MHI-MN-8762

Miner’s Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was likely manufactured in the early 20th century by an unknown maker (Hailwood designed lamps had a number of manufacturers). This safety lamp features Hailwood's patented removable wick tube and Hailwood's patented snuffer.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was likely manufactured in the early 20th century by an unknown maker (Hailwood designed lamps had a number of manufacturers). This safety lamp features Hailwood's patented removable wick tube and Hailwood's patented snuffer. The lamp has a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-8764
accession number
265669
catalog number
MHI-MN-8764

Miner’s Safety Lamp

This Davy style safety lamp was made by an unknown maker in the latter half of the 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters.
Description (Brief)
This Davy style safety lamp was made by an unknown maker in the latter half of the 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9250
accession number
272081
catalog number
MHI-MN-9250

Miner’s Safety Lamp

The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century.
Description (Brief)
The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9548A
accession number
280476
catalog number
MHI-MN-9548A

Miner’s Safety Lamp

The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century.
Description (Brief)
The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9548B
accession number
280476
catalog number
MHI-MN-9548B

Miner’s Safety Lamp

The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century.
Description (Brief)
The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9548C
accession number
280476
catalog number
MHI-MN-9548C

Miner’s Safety Lamp

The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century.
Description (Brief)
The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9548D
accession number
280476
catalog number
MHI-MN-9548D

Miner’s Safety Lamp

The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century.
Description (Brief)
The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9548E
accession number
280476
catalog number
MHI-MN-9548E

Miner’s Safety Lamp

J. Davis & Son Ltd. of Baltimore, Maryland manufactured this Davy-style safety lamp in the late 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters.
Description (Brief)
J. Davis & Son Ltd. of Baltimore, Maryland manufactured this Davy-style safety lamp in the late 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-9759
accession number
304880
catalog number
MHI-MN-9759

Miner's Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century. This lamp is one of the most popular and effective Wolf Company designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior. Lamps such as this were often used to gauge methane levels in mines, and were designed with upper air intakes so air on the mine’s ceiling could be tested.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7762
catalog number
MHI-MN-7762
accession number
235037

Miner's Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century. This lamp is one of the most popular and effective Wolf Company designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior. Lamps such as this were often used to gauge methane levels in mines, and were designed with upper air intakes so air on the mine’s ceiling could be tested.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7763
catalog number
MHI-MN-7763
accession number
235037

Miner's Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century. This lamp is one of the most popular and effective Wolf Company designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior. Lamps such as this were often used to gauge methane levels in mines, and were designed with upper air intakes so air on the mine’s ceiling could be tested.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7769
catalog number
MHI-MN-7769
accession number
235037

Miner's Safety Lamp

This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp was manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, from Brooklyn, New York in the late 19th century. This lamp is one of the most popular and effective Wolf Company designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior. Lamps such as this were often used to gauge methane levels in mines, and were designed with upper air intakes so air on the mine’s ceiling could be tested.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7770
catalog number
MHI-MN-7770
accession number
235037

Miner's Safety Lamp

This is a "Baby" Wolf Company Safety Lamp manufactured in the early 20th century. The "baby" name denotes its smaller size, and the "permissible" on the plaque indicates that this lamp was approved by the United States Bureau of Mines.
Description (Brief)
This is a "Baby" Wolf Company Safety Lamp manufactured in the early 20th century. The "baby" name denotes its smaller size, and the "permissible" on the plaque indicates that this lamp was approved by the United States Bureau of Mines. The baby Wolf safety lamp was manufactured for mine bosses who only needed lamps for infrequent, brief periods.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7858
catalog number
MHI-MN-7858
accession number
240639

Miner's Safety Lamp

This Hailwood's Air Regulator Safety lamp was manufactured in the late 19th century.
Description (Brief)
This Hailwood's Air Regulator Safety lamp was manufactured in the late 19th century. A plaque at the base of the lamp reads, "Hailwood's Air Regulator/Closed Air Regulator in Strong Air Currents." While safety lamps did a good job of protecting flames from igniting gas, they also needed to be protected from being extinguished by strong drafts in the mine, which this lamp was designed to prevent.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-7868
catalog number
MHI-MN-7868
accession number
240639

Miner’s Safety Lamp

This safety lamp model is an Ashworth-Hepplewhite-Gray lamp. The lamp is a “test lamp” used to measure the amount of methane in the air. The tubes that run vertically direct air to the flame at the base, which will then produce a colored “cap” in the presence of methane.
Description (Brief)
This safety lamp model is an Ashworth-Hepplewhite-Gray lamp. The lamp is a “test lamp” used to measure the amount of methane in the air. The tubes that run vertically direct air to the flame at the base, which will then produce a colored “cap” in the presence of methane. The majority of Ashworth-Hepplewhite-Gray lamps were produced by John Davis & Son of Derby, Leicestershire, U.K., during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
AG.MHI-MN-8761A
accession number
265669
catalog number
MHI-MN-8761A

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