Miner’s Safety Lamp

Description (Brief)
This Davy style safety lamp was manufactured by the American Safety Lamp and Mine Supply Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania 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
Object Name
lamp, safety, mining
mining lamp
Measurements
overall: 11 1/2 in x 2 3/4 in x 2 3/4 in; 29.21 cm x 6.985 cm x 6.985 cm
ID Number
AG*MHI-MN-9453
accession number
280476
catalog number
MHI-MN-9453
subject
Work
Industry & Manufacturing
Natural Resources
Mining Lamps
See more items in
Work and Industry: Mining
Mining Lamps
Data Source
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center

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