Safety lamp, Mueseler, c.1844

The fiery nature of the Belgian collieries early caused attention to be directed to the safety lamp. Mons. J. Mueseler improved the Davy in 1829, but in 1840 brought out the oil lamp shown. It is of the Clanny form externally, but has a conical bell -mouthed metal chimney supported by a wire gauze diaphragm inside the gauze case. The chimney, being filled with the products of combustion, will not communicate flame to the outside, and if the lamp be jerked or inclined the fresh and foul air will mix, and cause it to go out; this mixing also happens in an explosive atmosphere, as the chimney cannot carry off the products quickly enough. A screw lock is fitted. The lamp was one of the four made compulsory in fiery mines by Belgian Royal Decree of 1851. In 1864 the use of any other type was forbidden, and it was not until 1904 that these regulations were modified to permit the use of the Marsaut, Fumat, and Wolf lamps.