Miner’s Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This oil-wick cap lamp was made by John Dunlap of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the second half of the 19th 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. This lamp has a double-spout, indicating that it could have burned "Sunshine" fuel, a mixture of paraffin wax and 3% mineral oil produced by the Standard Oil Company. Often called a "Sunshine Lamp," the outer spout served to insulate the wick in the inner spout, thereby conducting enough heat to melt the wax.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Measurements
- overall: 3 3/4 in x 3 1/2 in x 2 in; 9.525 cm x 8.89 cm x 5.08 cm
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9773C
- accession number
- 304880
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9773C
- Credit Line
- George J. Titler
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Mining
- Work
- Industry & Manufacturing
- Natural Resources
- Mining Lamps
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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