The Carbide Miners Lamp - Bringing History Back to Life!

My grandfather took me to this mine in British Columbia back in the 1950s we went to the mineshaft he told me to go back, till I found a ladder that went down into the ground deep, I looked up and saw the silver courts and crystals, just as I was trying to knock off a piece for grandpa my light went out. And I climbed the ladder in the dark, saw the light at the end of the tunnel. That was 70 years ago.

My dad used one of these in the coal mines in Eastern Kentucky back in the day.. He would use the wire from a screen door to keep the orifice clear. I've seen him many times stop and unravel a 6 or 8 inch length of wire from the screen door screen and wrap it around the water contril handle so he would know where it was if the lamp went out. He could empty the "slack" out of the carbide chamber and refill it and then fill the water reservoir again all in the dark. He would wait til he heard the gas spewing out then cover the reflector with his hand for several seconds, 15 or so, then he would sharply pull the heel of his hand across the striker wheel. Thr result was a loud pop and a lit flame The size of the flame was controlled by the rate of water dripping into the carbide chamber. My brother and I were constantly stealing a few grains of carbide and blowing stuff up. We also used the soot in the flame to write on stuff, late 50s early 60s version of graphetti, I suppose.

Apparently some Miners still use them to this day due to the light quality as it's probably the closest to Sunlight where as LEDs whilst more efficient and brighter have a lower CRI (Colour Rendering Index).

Man, it must've taken some mighty big brass balls to strap a miniature blowtorch to your forehead, and use it to light your way while mining for COAL! Really puts my griping about running out of decaf in the break room in perspective.

A fascinating restoration job. They also used those type of lamps in old entertainment theaters before electric stage lights. I believe they called them Lime Lights, hence a saying “Being in the Lime Light”

This was absolutely so sweet! I love how you honored your Grandma and the memory of your Great-Grandpa in this video, in addition to the history you wove into science (or shall I say the science you wove into history...) Thank you so much for sharing. I have a "Permissible Miner's Safety Lamp" from my step-father's anthracite mining days. I have no idea how to make it work, so I was searching for a way to repurpose it into a standing table lamp. I found your video instead, and while I still do not know how to do it, I was blessed by your video. I am also thankful that showed me that I might unwittingly create a chemical reaction if I tried to clean it with water! Sheesh! Thank you for rescuing me from potential danger and for your enthusiasm! If you have any ideas, I would welcome them! Blessings!

When I was in the Marines, our shooting coaches would carry carbide lanterns that looked almost exactly like this in their coaching kits. You could get them, at least up through the 1980s, new at most sporting goods stores. They used them to blacken our rifle sites before we would shoot for annual qualification. The carbide produced a very sooty flame. Today, they use a powdery spray-on product made for this purpose. I haven't seen a soot pot or carbide lamp in use at the range for many years.

OH my gosh! I haven't seen one of those since I was a young girl! My step-dad worked in a slope mine and used one of those carbide lamps. He didn't have a helmet though, he wore a cap that had a clip embedded in the cap and hung the lamp on that while the lantern rested on the bill of the hat. This sure brought back a lot of memories from the 40's. I loved the smell of the carbide. Back then, we also had kerosene lamps in our home. We didn't have electricity or indoor plumbing so when we needed to go to the outhouse after dark, this was a great way to light up the pathway. Those were the good old days! Thanks for showing us your treasure.

My uncle found one of these under a house they were cleaning . still works !

Used to play with calcium carbide as a kid. Never knew what it was. Just thought they were cool rocks that bubbled in water and were flammable lol. I can still remember that smell 25 years later.

No wonder Coal Mines blew up back in the day! Coal Dust Clouds+Open Flame=💥💥💥

thanks a bunch for telling me where to get my calcium carbide i got it yesterday i waited to night time to light up my carbide miners lamp it stayed lit for four hours i walked around my back yard to make believe i was a miner in a coal mine i loved it so much that i ordered more calcium carbide today so i can light up my miners carbide lamp i could not believe the amount of light that carbide miners lamps give now i know why they are very useful in the mines thanks for this video one of the best videos i have ever seen in my life two thumbs up.

Was visiting a Gold mine in Silverton CO yesterday. The Miner showed us their equipment from back in the day. Part of that was the carbide lamp. I was wondering how it works. Thanks for your video!

Hey, 2 hours ago, I was on my way out the door, saw an ad for one of these, so impulsively bought it for $50! It's actually in great shape and water drips freely! I put a flint in it, so all i need is fuel! Great video, and awesome that your lamp has personal history and memories attached to it.

Thanks for sharing the science of carbide lanterns. Can hardly believe they wore those carbide lamps on their heads; brave men these were. Both my grandfather's were miners, one for coal, the other for lead.

I think it's amazing to make our elders smile and trigger their memories. I wish I had my grandparents still to see their eyes light up and watch them smile. I feel like that is one of the best things in the world👍🏼👍🏼 You are a awesome grand kid for doing that for your Grandma🙂🙂

I was riding my horse around an old coal mine not far from house today. (1920's-30's) I saw a small unusual can and stopped to pick it up. It said Auto-lite, universal lamp company on the bottom. I did a search on YT and it took me here. It's a carbide can from the bottom of the lamp you showed here. Very cool to see one lit! Thanks.

I think it's your excitement about what you do that makes me want to do things like this too. You're not my boring lackluster chem teacher trying to droll on about things that don't get my attention. Your channel is by far my favorite and the most addictive. Thank you for existing so that you may do the stuff, Mr. Beals.

As a kid growing up in gold country my mom and dad helped work the last claimed gold mine in Jamestown Ca. I remember using these lamps to go down in the mine.

My father was a coal miner in Illinois in the forties and fifties. We had some of these and they were used for fishing and outdoor activities. They were always clean and at the ready. There was a piece of screen wire twisted on the regulator bar on top used to clean out the flame orifice. PROPER operation went thus. You would put a small handful of carbide in the bottom of the lamp. Water was already in the top. Then you would spit in the carbide for the first wet to start the lamp. Screw the bottom on and make sure it is tight and the gasket is not crimped and is sealed properly. Then, holding the lamp in your left hand, cup your right hand over the reflector to trap the acetylene in there and hole your palm on the spark mechanism. THEN, you slide your hand off the reflector, rubbing the spark mechanism providing ample sparks into the gas rich mixture trapped under your hand. Normally, you would get a nice POP and your lamp was lit, and could be adjusted with the adjuster on top. Lamps were thoroughly cleaed each night when finished.