Miners Safety Lamp
Country
England
State/Province
Manchester
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Object detail
Description
Brass and steel lamp with carry handle loop on the top of the lamp, and a glass cover on the bottom of the lantern. A circular metal plate is screwed to the front face of the lamp and it reads: Protector Lamp and Lighting Co.Ltd. Eccles. Type 1 J.C.M. Approved under lighting schedule B. 62/144 G.
Classification
MINING Underground Equipment protector lamp
MINING Personal Gear miner's lamp
MINING Personal Gear miner's lamp
Production place
Measurements
H250 x Dia. 80 mm
Media/Materials description
Brass, glass, steel.
Signature/Marks
PROTECTOR LAMP & LIGHTING Co Ltd \ TYPE 1 JCM \ APPROVED UNDER \ LIGHTING \ SCHEDULE B \ MAKERS \ ECCLES
62/144 g
62/144 g
History and use
This type of safety lamp was used by miners for illumination from the mid-19th century particularly in coal mines. Commonly known as ‘Protector’ lamps, the flame would be automatically extinguished if any attempt was made to take it apart while it was still lit. This is because naked flames in coal mines are potentially very dangerous due to the presence of explosive mixtures of methane and air. These lamps would have been important pieces of equipment for the massive Queensland coal mining industry from its earliest days in the 19th century.
The Protector Lamp and Lighting Co. Ltd was founded in Manchester in 1873 and still manufactures miners lamps today. This particular style of lamp - a JCM type - were originally manufactured by Johnson, Clapham and Morris (JCM) from the 19th century. JCM was taken over by Protector Lamp and Lighting Co. in the 1950s, and they continued to manufacture JCM lamps, with one still being manufactured today. By 1914 Protector Lamp and Lighting Co. had supplied over a million miners safety lamps to colliers around the world, including in Australia. Despite the introduction of battery and electric-powered lighting in coal mines the safety lamp remains an essential item of the miner's equipment, although now their principal use is for gas detection.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
The Protector Lamp and Lighting Co. Ltd was founded in Manchester in 1873 and still manufactures miners lamps today. This particular style of lamp - a JCM type - were originally manufactured by Johnson, Clapham and Morris (JCM) from the 19th century. JCM was taken over by Protector Lamp and Lighting Co. in the 1950s, and they continued to manufacture JCM lamps, with one still being manufactured today. By 1914 Protector Lamp and Lighting Co. had supplied over a million miners safety lamps to colliers around the world, including in Australia. Despite the introduction of battery and electric-powered lighting in coal mines the safety lamp remains an essential item of the miner's equipment, although now their principal use is for gas detection.
Uploaded to the Web 27 May 2011.
Registration number
H10911