Hi Julius and CR:
My mother's father and bothers were coal miners in Pennsylvania, so I learned about carbide lamps at and early age (1950s) when my grandfather gave me one of his lamps. I've been fascinated by them ever since, and over the years, used an old coal miners lamp (open flame) while on backpacking trips to light up my campsite. Calcium carbide was plentiful back then but has pretty much disappeared since. But the internet has changed all that, and now I'm able to buy carbide online ($8.00/lb), so I've got all my old lamps fired up.
But a short history on carbide. It was discovered by a German scientist about the time of the American Civil War but perfected in the US in the 1890s. When water is dripped on carbide pellets, they give off acetylene gas which burns with a very white flame.
I have two carbide bicycle lamps. One of which was restored with the generous help of CR member Neil Foddering. The bicycle lamps, unlike miners lamps, have a glass lens protecting the flame. Some of the older English carbide bicycle lamps are considered works of art. Recently, a 1900 lamp in working condition (made by Lucas of motorcycle electric fame) sold for $180.00. These lamps were used on all turn-of-the-century cars, motorcycles, trains, horse-drawn buggies, and bicycles.
Michael "bubbling over" Allison
New York, NY
USA