I think we must be lucky in the UK, because I just bought 2 kilogrammes (4.4lbs) of 15/25mm size calcium carbide from a cave exploration supplies shop by mail order for GBP7.15 per kilo. A 3 kg tin is GBP17.50.
I can supply the address if any UK members are interested.
Neil Foddering Weymouth, Dorset, England
>From: Stronglight49@aol.com
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: Re: [CR] carbide lamps
>Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 03:29:50 EST
>
>There are still calcium carbide lamps made today. They are used for
>attachment to mining helmets. Calcium carbide is very expensive these
>days. This
>is because it is so potentially volatile that in the US it must be shipped
>by
>ground (not air), yet it still has to be packed in specially government
>approved types of containers and handled similar to when shipping
>explosives.
>
>Nevertheless, the Bicycle (later Motorcycle and Automobile) lamps did
>produce a bright white light which in the late 1800s could not be otherwise
>produced from a portable source. There were several major US companies
>which
>manufactured the lamps. They were typically made of brass and some of
>these were
>plated over with Nickel. The US company Union Carbide (which later would
>produce batteries) first made its fortune with the production of carbide
>granules
>for the lamps.
>
>The vintage bike-mount lamps sure look cool. These will often feature a
>red
>and a green glass side-lens (like the starboard and port running lights on
>your yacht) in addition to a convex light-amplifying glass front lens. The
>lamps are wonderfully simple in their basic design. But, if you plan to
>buy one
>to actually use, or even test, be sure you find one with a working valve
>and
>all the correct and working internal parts. Then of course, there is the
>issue of finding the correct sized granules for burning in a lamp, and
>making
>sure the source is licensed to ship the product safely to you. Not
>something
>you'd generally want to buy from an amateur seller on eBay, but there are
>online companies listed on enthusiast mining and cave exploration
>websites...
>But, make sure you understand the final cost - with shipping.
>
>Flame-On, Green Lantern!
>
>
>Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, NM, USA
>
>
>
>____________________________________
> Also, it smells like a cat litter box. Only worse. I just had a demo
>from
>friend/CR list member/carbide lamp collector Michael Allison. Stinky
>stuff!
>
>Matthew Bowne
>Brooklyn, New York