Ashworth-Hepplewhite-Grey Safety Lamp

Description:

This flame safety lamp is an Ashworth Hepplewhite Gray style lamp manufactured by the American Safety Lamp & Mine Supply Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania during the late 19th or early 20th century. The lamp is a “test lamp” used to test for the presence combustible methane in the mine. The lamp has four tubes that run vertically from the top of the lamp to the glass enclosed flame. The tubes direct the mine’s air to the flame, which will produce a colored “cap” in the presence of methane. The larger the cap, the more methane is present. If the concentration of methane is combustible, the mine will need to be ventilated until safe working conditions are restored.

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Work and Industry: Mining, Mining Lamps, Work, Industry & Manufacturing, Grant Wheat Collection

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Publication: Pohs, Henry A.. Early Underground Lamps

Credit Line: Mary R. Wheat

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: AG.MHI-MN-8137Accession Number: 239148Catalog Number: MHI-MN-8137

Object Name: lamp, hand, mining

Measurements: overall: 9 13/16 in; 24.892 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-d826-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_872667

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