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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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”

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

I once worked in a chemical plant producing calcium carbide on an industrial scale... we used to export small chuncks (

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!

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🙂🙂

So neat! I have my grandfathers lamp. Looks just like this one. I'd say it works. It's clean as a whistle. 😊

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.

Testimony to the craftsmanship of a simple tool. When things were NOT disposable.

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

Your Great Grandad will be proud of you : )...We still use the lime acetylene carbide lamps in Yorkshire in the UK for caving/pot hole caving mostly

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

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.

I used a carbide lamp back in the mid 1970's. I used to go spelunking (caving) in high school and that was the primary method used by cavers back in the 1970's and 1980's. Outdoor/athletic stores sold carbide lamps and even the carbide (in a dark blue can) was sold in outdoor stores that catered to hikers, campers, rock climbers (I did that too) and cavers. This is way before most outdoor/athletic stores turned into your standard athletic fashion stores. In the "olden days" outdoor/athletic stores actually catered to athletes and outdoor people with good, top of the line outdoor/athletic equipment.....stuff you rarely find in today's athletic stores like Dick's or Bass Pro shops.

i was reading in the encyclopedia just yesterday about this acetylene lamp. it said they were quite expensive to buy and run during that time. they showed a 1908 landcaster vehicle with 2 front and 2 side lamps. it said motorcycles, cars and bikes had them in the day. but as technology progress the lamp was phased out of use.

Having taught at university myself, I love the way you explain things and make them interesting.

Amazing. My great grandfather was a Welsh coal miner, not, incidentally, in Wales around the turn of the last century. He used the same kit. They lost a lot of people, wandering around with open flames surrounded by coal dust. You and I are both very lucky to be.... anywhere.

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 didn't expect it to be so bright. Amazing to see it alight again.

I had bought quite a sturdy carbide lantern with a hook when I was a teenager and my chemistry teacher made my day by lighting it in class.

That’s so cool I have 2 of them I’m going to try to clean it up and light it thanks

I and my best friend had them in the early 60's. Used them every night to go exploring in the woods. Much less expensive then batteries.

I have a couple of carbide miner's lights and would love to get them working.

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.

Cool! My grandfather was a miner in New Jersey! That calcium carbide is what they used to write their names inside the mines and on the walls. They would write the date.

So cool. I've seen many of these lanterns, coming from a coal mining town in PA. Actually the next town over is currently 20 years into a working mine fire. Anyway, I can't imagine working with that thing on my head. I'm still kinda confused on the water part but so happy you got it working!

my father used to work in mines and he had a head lamp and a battery in his waist i kept playing with. i never seen a carbide lamp before

Cool! My grandpa has an old carbide lantern that i think my great uncle used when he worked in a mine. Im gonna try and get it working. A cool thing, is that it has its original box, instructions, and parts! It has a cleaner for the nozzle where the flame comes out so i dont need acid! But worst comes to worst, he has some muriatic acid in his garage as well.

Wow thats cool! ive never heard of this type of lamp before

As a child, I had one of those. I would take my hand and cover the end for half a second and then slide my hand over the striker, it would explode and it sounded like a rifle shot. I never got hurt and had lots of fun. It was like holding an explosion in your hand, but it had to be done outdoors if you valued your hearing. I discovered it by accident and perfected the technique.

Cool Hot!👍It's good to remember and use this excellent light source 👍

Very cool. Very cool indeed, but there is a reason they stopped using them, as you can guess open flames in mines dont mix well unless you intend to blow it up

My grandfather had one on his bicycle back in the 1930's and 1940's. My dad told me . He rode it to work back in the day .

Lovely to see one working! I've seen them loads of times being carried by cavers years ago, but when I've been going down a cave, I've always used electric. I'm amazed at how bright it is!

I actually have a miners helmet from the 30s with a carbide lamp on it. Just recently I found a carbide lamp in the original box with a can of carbide full.

.. this is awesome .. my old man had one of those .. 🔥

I have one too that was used in the coal mines. But I haven't cleaned it up wanting to preserve the original setup. Thumbs Up!

I was so excited to find this video!! I recently found a carbide miner’s lamp exactly like yours in a box of my Father’s belongings. My son wants it and I shared this video with him in case he and his son’s want to try and get it working again. It would have been used by my Father’s Grandfather, my Great Grandfather, my son’s Great-Great Grandfather and my Grandson’s Great-Great-Great Grandfather. If they get it working it would be the 5th & 6th generation reviving it! THANK YOU for sharing how to do this! P.S. My Dad was a chemistry professor and would have loved what you are doing here on UTube.

just been looking at the UK painter Norman Phillips who was a miner and in his spare time painted his life underground and the men he worked with. Came here to find out what colours would have lit up the men and ponies as they worked and thank you for answering the basic question as his paintings reflect the bright intense light that lit up your hands as you demonstrated.

A fellow teacher, I am taking a grad class on NHD and reading Life in a Jar and they mentioned carbide lamps. I realized I've only read about them. That you for the post. Now I know how they work and it helped bring the book book to life.

Really lovely to see this charming thing brought back to life and create so much nostalgia and happy memories. I noticed it had no glass lens assembly or lamp housing unlike the Lucas bike lamps of that era? Presumably that was to allow for a faster and therefore brighter burn rate and improved heat convection that simply would have cracked and scorched the traditional glass lens and lamp housings of that time. That burn rate must have easily had the intensity of a blow lamp to prevent the naked flame from snuffing out in the draughts which would have been prevalent a plenty in the coal mines in which it was intentend to be used.

I've just found my dad's in the loft and think it may have been his father's.Great vid and I'll see if I can get this one working

I think it's missing a piece that would be kind of cool to find: a glass Bull with a hole in the top that protects it from wind and movement which may be kind of cool to find

May I call you "Mr. Wizard" from my favorite TV show back in the 60s? Thanks for the awesome science lesson🪔

You can get an adapter that is a screw on tube like a car brake line that extends the lamp part and reflector, for having it on your head and the cannister swapped for larger ones of same model by your belt

So cool and so simple

My Dad used to manufacture these carbide lamps at Premier Lamp in Leeds, UK

Always wondered how they worked. I figured it was a chemical reaction of some flavor but didn't know the particulars till now. And what a cool family heirloom!

HIM: THANKS FOR WATCHING! ME: NO SIR THANK YOU FOR THIS AWESOME VIDEO!

Cool piece of history

I still have my dad's lamp just like yours. Dad worked in the Arkansas coal mines 1 day and did not even go back to get his pay. 200 feet down in a 1 man elevator, then lay on your side 12 hours in a 3 foot tall tunnel in 6 inches of water chipping out coal. When I was a boy we would use it for a froging light. Hold it in your left hand and shine it in the frogs eyes and with your right hand shove the frog in the mud, get a good hold of it, put it in the minnow bucket. No gig holes and the frog stayed alive much longer.

That was one cool video. My grandfather worked in the mines back than and had a carbide light on his hat too. Awesome presentation.

Totally wild just plain fantastic..

I can't imagine trying to use that in a mine! Thanks for the vid.

Thanks for the advice on cleaning the hydroxide from my 1930s Auto Lite, I've been hoping to see the veteran breath once more. I'll try to give an update when the carbide arrives and again thank you.

Working in mineshaft was of high risk in that people used to have no choice but to bring a portable flamethrower for lighting

Brilliant!

Fun fact most rural areas of The Netherlands use this to make controlled explosions in vessels as fireworks.

My great great grandpa was a miner for the Westmoreland Coal Company in Southwest Virginia and wore one of those I have it in operating condition with the helmet and all

man...that is so very cool. I never thought it would have been that bright. Thank you the science and brief history lesson...YOU ROCK

Awesome. Thanks so much

That's so cool! My father told us story that they actually use those kind of lamp during their time. We call it Kalburo. I was confused because he say the fuel the used on their lamp was this Kalburo and dripping water. I could hardly imagine his description until I saw this.😂 Anyway we used to play with this on a bamboo cannon. It explodes greatly that most of the time the bamboo cannon is distroyed.😂

Great video. Working on a mine site myself, "Mine safety health administration" (M.S.H.A.) would have a coronary if they caught us using one of those lol....It's fascinating how technology has changed through the decades. Thank you for sharing! kind regards, Eric Dee.

I would have liked to see a bunch of old carbide lanterns in an episode of MacGyver. Maybe he could have been locked in a room with a steal door, acetylene cutting torch that was out of gas, and a bunch of carbide and water. He could have refilled the tank of acetylene and gotten the cutting torch going and cut the hinges of the door

Living history in action, ... Really good stuff and very informative too... I believe early motor bikes used such lights too, nice 1, thanks... Thom in Scotland.

Gracias por no dejar desaparecer esa tecnologia

Pretty cool.

That is pretty cool!

I have my grandfather's carbide mining lamp, but have never been able to find the carbide for it.

Very nice !!!!

I remember watching family members go coon(racoon) hunting using carbide lamps.

That’s fantastic 👍

Wow that is very cool. I would love to have a calcium carbide lamp like that.

That pupper tho

That's really cool. I am going to make a 3D model of this. Now I know how it worked

The ceramic tips are as fine as frog hair to find today.

My dad and his freinds used these when racoon hunting. I have watched a few people set their clothes on fire with them, they are simple and useful however. Light a cigarette with it, start a fire, good walking light for close range.

How cool is that !

Nice model. My father gave me an old carbide lantern. i cleaned it and now i wait to receive the carbide i bought to try it

Loved you're video. Has made me order my own lamp for camping. Thank you

My dad was a spelunker in the 1950s, left me a couple carbide lamps. They work good if you take care of them. But they can burn the crap out of you, and even occasionally explode, if you don't know what you're doing. And btw, just so you know, acetylene smells alot like dog poop, if you don't burn it, hahahaha....

fantastic video I was just watching a similar video of early turn of the century automobile lamps and how they worked similar to your great-grandfather's Miner's lamp also I think your channel is very educational and I'm actually learning a lot myself keep doing the good work and I always have nothing but respect for educators they are underpaid and underappreciated

Awesome!

And also very dangerous light too, mines have sometimes gas there, explain in old times there must pretty some explodes happened.

Technology Connections brought me here. I wonder if brightness of this lamp has to do something with calcium particles in the gas, like in the limelight.

Ya did good but abit to ruff . Vinegar clears them out nice and new . Hcl is to ruff on them . But one trip isn't too bad . Have a few my self been repairing. Cool old things 130 years old still working 💪

They may not be as bright as a modern day flashlight, but they're still pretty bright.

Very nice

Now you gotta get that igniter to work.

You should watch the movie the Devil's Miner. It's about Bolivian miners who use these lamps today. It's also kinda cool because you have been to Peru, which of course is close to Bolivia. I'm glad you explained this. I could never figure out how they got their lamps to work. They poured water into a canister, but they called it acetylene. I know acetylene is a gas... but now I understand. Thanks. PS. I'm a Spanish Teacher in NY... so what you do is so cool to me. Thanks.

Cool video!