Lot #31: Antique miner's carbide lamp, "Butterfly" model, Hong Kong/USA

This is an antique miner's carbide lamp, specifically a "Butterfly" model, manufactured by the Safe Sport Manufacturing Company. It is a carbide lamp, which means it produces light by reacting calcium carbide with water to create acetylene gas, which is then burned. This type of lamp was commonly used by miners from the early 1900s to the 1950s, especially between 1910 and 1935. The lamp is made of brass and features a reflector to direct the light. It was a significant advancement over candles and oil lamps, producing a much brighter flame. The lamp's design includes a water chamber, a carbide chamber, and a nozzle where the gas is ignited. The "Butterfly" trademark is associated with the Safe Sport Manufacturing Company. These lamps were safer than open-flame lamps in gassy mines but were eventually replaced by battery-powered lamps. The lamp was invented by Frank Guy, a miner from Springfield, who partnered with George and Edgar Shanklin to produce it.
Measurements: 4x5x5
Pickup category timeslot {B}