Carbide miners lamp, just add water

[adamfurtaw]

I wonder how many miners had their heads blown off when they encountered a gas pocket.

[branhub]

There’s something about non electrical technology that’s tickles my brain. Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[undeadarmy]

For those wondering how this works-
Those pellets are calcium carbide(CaC2). When you mix them with water (H2O) it creates an exothermic reaction which creates acetylene gas (C2H2), which produces a bright white flame.

[kevinpurcell]

I'm 70yrs old, my grandparents farm house was lighted through out with the coolest light fixtures, one was a chandelier in the living room with crystals, all these fixtures were powered with acetylene gas generated from a carbide generator buried in the ground about 40ft from the house. That generator also supplied gas to fixtures in the chicken house, the milk barn, and the horse and mule barns. Really cool late 1800's and early 1900's technology. Only 3 of the house lights remain and run from natural gas today. They burn with a mantel like Coleman lantern.

[HAVOC_]

Papa had one. He'd get it out every time the power would go out. It was fun watching him set it up.

[dalepotter]

I remember seeing them as a kid, now I know what they are .
I'm 56, you learn something new everyday.

[beetee]

I'm a acetylene generator operator, acetylene was also used for headlight for cars busses and motorcycles. It was also used as an anesthesia. I use 2 ton bins at a time to fill cylinders. These lamps are cool.

[JusBidniss]

I'm in my 60s now, but for years before I was born, my hard-working old grandpa raised his family by putting one of these on the front of his hard hat to see by as he worked down in a coal mine.

Seeing it demonstrated as a kid, that loud 'Pop!' when the striker on the edge would light the gas (a lot louder than here) was very startling to a small, tender lad.

[larryhart]

I'm 61 . And I remember going raccoon hunting with my grandfather and we used the carbide lights

[YokiDokiPanic]

I legit never questioned how these worked despite being keenly aware that they were invented before the lightbulb let alone batteries. Very cool! Learned something!

[Bmg]

I’m 50 years old and have seen these a bunch on movies and docs about coal mines. I’ve always wondered how it all worked. Thanks!

[DementedCaver]

I love when there are folks around that still use the carbide lamps. I like the warm glow and oddly enough I like the smell.

[jiFFyfEEtFL]

Crazy how inventive folks were before the age of portable battery power.

[wickedways]

Both my grandfathers got into mining around 1915. We lit our fireworks off with these lamps all through my childhood. Good memories. Ty

[johnmcquinn]

Used a carbide lamp when caving at bighorn in Utah and Horse Thief in Montana during a NOLS course in 1982. Works every time. Very dependable. Easily pack-able. No batteries to charge. Gave all the light you need.

[diverdave]

I still have my fathers carbide lamp and cap ... we used to fill it and light it and ride our bikes around the block at night !

[thomasarussellsr]

My grandfather had these as an old pick and shovel coal miner in western Kentucky. Us grandkids pretty much all got our butts whooped at least once for "playing with" his torches/lamps.

[technician]

i was impressed with how it was turned on, that look sick! haha

[qst]

My dad was a hard rock miner in Colorado. He took my brother and me into the mine. I remember how bright the carbide lamps were.

[kevinpurcell]

My dad used one of those in the 1930's when was was a kid racoon hunting at night, they fit on a strap that goes around your head. Originally they were used by miners and tunnel builbers.