Lamp

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This safety lamp or 'Davey' lamp was used in a mine. It dates from the late 19th century and is made of brass.

The lamp section is encased in a gauze cylinder, with a hood at the top to disperse the heat. The lamp has a round reservoir and, at the side, a reservoir filler pipe with a stopper.

The lamp is named after its inventor Humphrey Davey. Its purpose was to alert miners to the presence of combustible and poisonous gases - it would have begun to flare in the presence of such gases.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-598-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MGN 1
• Date: Late 19th century
  
• Material: Brass
  Lamp, Davey
  
• Dimensions: 9.40" H; 1.75" H x 2.65" D reservoir
  
• What: Lamp, Davey
  
• Subject: Lighting - lanterns - acetylene, carbide (NMAS Classification)
  
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• Description: Early Davey Lamp of brass with a round reservoir, a cylinder of fine mesh with six brass rods, and a hinged lid, late 19th century
  
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