Miner's Lamps

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The need to invent a safe flame lamp that would not ignite on contact with methane gas was realized in the early nineteenth century when several severe explosions took place in the North of England, killing many miners.

Three individuals independently worked on the solution at the same time: William R. Clanny, Sir Humphrey Davy and George Stephenson.

Each contributed a portion of the final successful safety lamp that was developed by 1815/16. Davy’s most important contribution was the use of wire gauze that separated flame from gas. Hence the miner’s flame safety lamp has been known as a “Davy Lamp.” By 1900 this safety lamp was being replaced with electrical mine lighting. By 1930 the “Davy Lamp” became largely obsolete.

Yet antique Miner’s safety lamp continued to be used for measuring and detecting gas long after it functioned as a lighting device for miners. Originally it burned a vegetable oil held in a reservoir below a tall tapered cylinder holding a bare gauze screen in the shape of a cone.

Antique miner's lamps continue to be a piece of history and remain very collectible. Depending on the age, history and condition, miner's lamp can sell for hundreds of dollars at auction and via private sale. There are many reproductions of original miner's lamps, so be sure to have your collectible authenticated by an expert. A modern equivalent of the antique Davy lamp is the Protector Garforth GR6S flame safety lamp that is used in all UK coal mines to test for “firedamp” or methane gas. Flames for the Olympic Flame torch relays are carried on modified versions of this flame safety lamp.