Miner's Cap Lamp

Description (Brief):

This is a copper oil-wick cap lamp made by J&A McDougall of Pittston, Pennsylvania likely in the latter half of the 20th century. The oil-wick cap lamp was first invented in Scotland in 1850 and in use until the 1920’s. The font contained a mix of fat and oil for fuel, and a wick was inserted into the spout. The resulting flame was much brighter and more efficient than the candles it replaced. The hook enabled the lamp to be worn on a cap, or hooked onto any other suitable location.

Date Made: 1881

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania

See more items in: Work and Industry: Mining, Mining Lamps, Work, Industry & Manufacturing, Natural Resources

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Publication: Dewey, Frederic P.. Bulletin of the United States National Museum No. 42: A Preliminary Descriptive Catalogue of the Systematic Collections in Economic Geology and Metallurgy in the United States National Museum

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AG.059073Catalog Number: 059073Accession Number: 014851

Object Name: mining lamp

Measurements: overall: 4 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in; 11.43 cm x 11.43 cm x 8.89 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-aeb5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_872086

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