Mueseler Safety Lamp, 1860-1881

Safety lamp, Mueseler no

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Safety lamp, Mueseler no
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Safety lamp, Mueseler no.16, from the Royal Commission on Accidents in Mines, 1879-86, maker: E. Thomas, Aberdare, marking: makers name, 1860-1881

This miner’s lamp is one of a collection of over two hundred lamps examined by the Royal Commission on Accidents in Mines, 1879-1886. Mining has always been a dangerous occupation – In Britain, up to 1800 miners died in accidents every year. The Commission sought to prevent accidents from happening, and to limit their consequences. Miners need light to work, but often lamps caused devastating explosions when the flames within came into contact with gases such as methane present in the atmosphere.

The Commission emphasised the insecurity of the older Davy and Stephenson-type lamps, which were still used in many mines. Unless enclosed in a tall glass shield or case, the faster ventilating currents being used underground meant their internal flame could contact the atmosphere outside, potentially causing an explosion.

The Commission experimented with over 250 lamps, and many types failed to give security in explosive air currents of over 1,000 ft. per min. velocity. Even in the safe lamps, however, the ultimate source of danger— the breaking of the glass - was always present. Moreover many of these lamps either produced little light or were too easily extinguished by movement of the lamp. Others were too complicated for general mining use. The Commission identified which lamps should not remain in service, and which had the best record for safety, good illumination, and simplicity of construction.

Details

Category:
Mining & Ore Dressing
Object Number:
1886-233/60
Materials:
brass, glass, iron and complete
Measurements:
overall: 330 x 90 mm
weight: 1.25kg
weight: 2.75579lbs
weight: 11.91kg
weight: 26.25719lbs
type:
oil lamp, miners' lamps and miners' safety lamps
credit:
Geological Museum (Jermyn St.)