Mining Safety Lamps: a Light in Dark Places

[@vcprado]

As a child I yearned for the mines

[@cbhlde]

Child labour is cool! ;)

[@JonSauter]

Better than pining for the fjords.

[@cbhlde]

@@JonSauter :)

[@hydrophobicbathtowel6816]

​@@JonSauter as a parrot, I often pine for the fjords.

[@hydrophobicbathtowel6816]

A minor miner.

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

The sheer amount of discoveries and inventions that came out of the Davy family is really impressive.

[@bradlevantis913]

It’s wild that well over 2 centuries the largely unchanged design is still in use

[@richardl6751]

When it's not broken it doesn't need fixing.

[@fricki1997]

Physics still works the same as it did back then :)

[@cbhlde]

Illuminating! ;)

[@herbcraven7146]

Indeed! Thanks for enlightening us, Gilles! 🥸

[@squishy024]

What a bright idea for a video

[@stevenlagoe7808]

@cbhlde Hurrah! 😁

[@binarydinosaurs]

As a Geordie lad who grew up less than 2 miles from the site of that terrible Felling disaster, safety lamps have always been a fascinating subject for me. I did essays on the Davey lamp at school as well as covering the Ste{ph|v}enson version in the 70s. Still got my drawings somewhere, copied from a library book of course. Cheers Gilles!

[@culturevulture3382]

Thanks. Well done! I respect the person who lists their sources...

[@stbmunky]

Love it when this topic comes up. My great grandfather was William Davy, a descendent of Humphry. I remember seeing his signature in the family bible, which was a tradition in Britain at the time. The original experimental model lamp is in the archives of the Royal Society, here in London. It’s strikingly unimpressive to look at. Humphry Davy might have been a bit of an arse during the intellectual property argument, though it’s worth noting that he never patented the idea, hence didn’t profit from it at scale.

[@johnbray3143]

excellent romp through a complicated subject

[@prodwellfed]

YES! you are a big youtuber now. I remember finding u when u were a smaller channel. u are a very knowledgeable person and you put tremendous effort into ur videos. congratulations sir

[@qwertzuiop1230]

Great video as always sir. Being German it’s interesting to see pur words used in the English language. Thank you for this informative summary

[@HRHTwisteenaTonga]

I'm jealous of your bathroom pocket door!

[@donjones4719]

So much detail - and all of it interesting. Great work relating each advancement with what came before or in parallel.

[@FruitMuff1n]

I could watch hours about this topic from you! so interesting!

[@CornishMiner]

Great video. Most enlightening.

[@bchin4005]

Such a bright young man

[@henryD9363]

I have one of these that looks almost exactly like the middle one in your thumbnail. Maybe an inch shorter. I found it in an antique shop decades ago. It's made by Weems and Plathe. The brass label says Yacht Lamp. I have just lighted it and am looking at it now! I can hold it by the top hook and swing it around vigorously making loops and figure eights. It does not blow out. I looked up into the top and there's only one mesh that I could see. So I'm thinking it's not suitable as a mine lamp. I love your videos and watch all of them.

[@richardockman5988]

You allways have great videos , loved the opening shot walking out of the restroom with the explosion pruf lamp. Your dive into details is good.

[@Muonium1]

That was much more fascinating than I expected it to be. Of course I knew about Davy lamps, but I had no idea there were other designs like the water bubbling one that preceded it by almost a hundred years!

[@MrBanzoid]

Hi Giles. Interesting and informative video as usual, thank you. With reference to the first lamp you demonstrated, I have one of those. However, while they or similar ones were used until the more efficient types were available,. While talking to a collector he said they were still produced in small quantities and were known as "school" lamps to demonstrate the principles of the safety lamp in mining schools. I remember my dad, who was a miner in the Durham coalfields in the UK used to hang a safety lamp beside his car radiator to stop it freezing in winter. By the way, Stephenson is pronounced Steevenson.

[@Srinathji_Das]

Thanks so much for putting these beautiful videos together!

[@andycap6786]

Great presentation, thanks. A word of warning though, Cambrian lamps, and presumably other makes to, had asbestos seals at the top and bottom of the glass. As my lamp, like most these days, is just for show I very carefully removed them, and replaced them with cardboard seals instead. Hope this helps.

[@robertlugo3388]

I just rewatched the 10 year anniversary video from Today I Found Out. It's great to see how much your channel has grown. I'm also glad I found the channel. Keep up the good work

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Great video, Gilles...👍

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Great Video !

[@michiganmafia]

Some of my family on my Dad's side worked in the coal mines around a hundred years ago, and my Dad has kept some heirloom Safety Lamps, one of which looks similar to the Koehler

[@RIFF0RAFF]

Perfect explanation.

[@sethrice9939]

I’m convinced my youngest daughter is a reincarnation of a decades experienced old coal miner. The things she says, the food she can eat. The fact that just about nothing scares her. Not even the dark. The man in the top hat she saw in the cemetery that one time. That nobody else saw. But the clothes were late 1800’s according to a movie we all watched a week later when she’s like “the hat man had clothes like him”… it’s uncanny.

[@ronchappel4812]

Even though i understand how they work,it still amazes me they work

[@jastrapper190]

Cool topic.

[@najroe]

I have couple of those, good lamps for no pressurised or preheated fuel or air.

[@jastrapper190]

You want me to do what now? Hold the lit stick into to pocket of flammable gas.. the provided I’m still alive… then stand up… yeah… I better be getting a gift certificate to the Company Store.

[@AnonymousAnarchist2]

its no wonder why the coal miners litterally started wars with the company owners

[@JonosBtheMC]

I didn't expect Aberdare to be mentioned! E Thomas & Williams are still making lamps there, though not in the original factory. Ironically that was destroyed by a fire.

[@alexr5557]

Brill - Thank you Sir!

[@thomaswilliams2273]

I saw a video on these a while ago and kind of wanted one. Now that I know that there's a namesake company that made them, I now know which brand I want.

[@DustyGamma]

14:17 I've got that exact reproduction! Was my Grandpa's, he was a mining engineer, and had a collection of different mining things. (sadly, the glass has cracked from something)

[@JohnDoe-fk6id]

is this a reupload? Update? I swear I remember a lot of this from one of your previous videos.

[@CompleteAnimation]

Same. I'm pretty sure I watched this video before

[@ibrahimkocaalioglu]

Thank you Gilles. Amazing topic and amazing presentation. 👏

[@bentboybbz]

Were there ever any mining lamps that used reflectors and lenses to condense the light from the flame into a beam or something similar? Maybe just reflect light from the back half of the lamp or anything else like that? Seems like it could have helped with the relatively dim output, allowed for light to be directed through a piece of glass instead of mesh thusly maintaining separation of the outside atmosphere in places you don't want it entering etc, I've also always wondered if it's possible to reflect outside sunlight and direct it on a straight path for a good distance then maybe even around a corner, then disperse it like a floodlight? I'm sure someone has had to try it many years ago, maybe with limited success given the materials, knowledge and technology available at the time, i wonder if It could be done with modern high quality mirrors and optics that we have the privilege of being able to acquire, I mean we can fire a bulb around a ruby rod with a 100% reflective mirror at one end and a 95-98% reflective mirror at the other and pump it's energy until it emits a laser beam, I know I absolutely butchered that explanation, I know how it works myself but explaining it isn't my strong point being extremely introverted, I lack the skills😂, such high quality optics and mirrors exist today along with the knowledge, I'm sure it's not efficient or practical but I just really want to know if it can be done 😂 am I the only one that wants the answers to such questions? I wish I hit the lottery, I don't want supercars or mansions or jewelry, once a decent life is set aside for me and my family, really things like riding around and helping less fortunate people get on their feet by hiring them and teaching them skills etc would make me happy, or seeing a question or problem, using my wealth, and getting the appropriate people together to try and answer the question or fix the problem while maybe using the entire thing to invite the public to come watch, learn, maybe eat some food have a good time etc type of thing, I don't see homeless people as a burden etc, I see someone that needs help finding a way to help society and make a living, unfortunately I don't have the means to start a business employing people to clean communities, or teach skills like painting, carpentry, tiling, plumbing, HVAC, electricians, and much more that could help them help society and earn a living while doing it, obviously not everyone will have good intentions, I would employ a strict set of rules, no one is perfect, but depending on severity, the second or third time is inexcusable and grounds for permanent expulsion from my program, zero tolerance violence and drug policies etc, again I unfortunately don't have the means which honestly makes me sad that I can't help answer questions solve problems and help less fortunate people 😢 I appreciate your time and effort! I hope you are having a great day or night!

[@ezpoppy55]

Absolutely fascinating! Another tragic example of how determined people can be to act against their own long term benefits (life) for the possibility, far from guaranteed, of a short term gain (bigger paycheck). Still in play today. Thank you for yet another remarkable video. 👏🏼

[@barblargh]

It's also a reminder of how companies are glad to ruthlessly exploit people and set up conditions in which they have to choose between long-term and short-term safety, and then blame them for making a choice. Also known as capitalism.

[@ninjaswordtothehead]

"Your idea can't be as good as mine, you're poor." -rich guy, regardless of era

[@h-leath6339]

Here's my problem: We (us "civilized" people, with knowledge and industry) have been around gas for quite a long while. To the point where we have added denaturing agents to the product so that the average wanker can go "yeah, smells like a gas leak". Yet every year , in America, there is a nation wide AP broadcast about an apartment in New York or a house in Illinwoise or a trailer in buttfucknowhere that surprisingly explodes for unexpected reasons. I've done research. The stoichiometric ratio needed to explode a dwelling is rather hard to meet. And yet in the mines the test was "I dunno, toss a flame in there. Let's see if it goes "fwoomp"'. And then one day a manager said "Um, hey guys, we should probably stop doing that.".

[@tom1644x]

Amazing to think a German airplane could see a little lamp from up there, that would need a blue tinted glass.

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

Great Police song, "Canary In A Coal Mine".

[@jonathanreedpike]

Slim Pickens as Diogenes " I think you boys have had enough.".

[@TomFarrell-p9z]

I'm just surprised to learn Manitoba has a naval museum. (Or would be, if I hadn't heard it from one of Gilles videos previously.)

[@sigmundblank7403]

Ya didn't wash your hands Gilles!

[@jxh02]

Winnipeg seems a long way from the ocean to have a naval museum, no?

[@MadeleineTakam]

As a pedant, I must remark, that the correct pronunciation of Stephenson, in George Stephenson is "stee" + "vuhn" + "suhn".

[@AllTheFasteners]

I was going to say the same thing 😅

[@jabbawok944]

Likewise.

[@TheKencoffee]

Now I'm curious how ph = v in this and similar names.

[@thea.m.p.co.467]

​@@TheKencoffeeSame. Supposedly stev is an "old spelling", so why the change? And some people pronounce it "stef". To parallel, I don't call my sister _Stevanie..._ I believe either pronunciation can be considered correct, and frankly, I don't think it matters. In 200 years they could be calling the guy Step-henson, and it still won't matter.

[@jonathanmimnagh8956]

Stephen like the boys name, son, like male offspring.

[@jrjr3082]

Weird looking flush valve

[@karhukivi]

The Olympic flame is carried in one when transferring it by aircraft to another country.

[@Mystickneon]

Didn't you already do these a while ago?

[@51WCDodge]

The pillars are always an odd number. I have a WOLF Safety lamp, (W.M. Maurice Sheffield)

[@samditto]

I love grim fandango

[@BFI1788]

I have my grandfathers lantern from his time as a coal miner

[@janneaalto3956]

Do you moonlight as Edward Carnby? Because that intro felt like straight out of the original 1992 Alone In The Dark.

[@wormyboot]

Have we ever sent a canary to space? I feel like we should've sent a canary to space by now.

[@richardl6751]

At first I thought this was going to be about Diogenes.

[@Katzenkratscher]

Interesting. Navy of Manitoba.

[@FiveRustyNails]

ARP stands for air raid precautions not air raid protection

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Lay with dogs, rise with fleas.

[@juver890]

Were there ever any carbide safety lamps ?

[@User_Un_Friendly]

The question I have is...what kind of "damp" was endemic to Tapioca Mines? Well, I'm sure Gomez Addams was mostly a shareholder, and thus left management of operations to others...🤔🧐

[@h-leath6339]

Also, you don't need to explain yourself to fend off geek rants. You do, however, need to do a piece on what an "angle stop" is. That is your due for me subscribing and liking as hard as I'm allowed.

[@TheOwlman]

Where did you get the pronunciation of Stephenson from? It is Stevenson. I know, but he was English, and English is a weird language and we pronounce it Stevenson. This grated on me just the same as when Edmund's name is pronounced Hayley. 😬

[@filmclipuk]

Yes, sorry @Gilles .. it's Stee-ven-s'n 🤷‍♀️ I'm afraid that was becoming really grating 😔

[@stevenlagoe7808]

I find it grating, too. Hall-ee, or hal-ee, but not Hay-lee. 'Hayley's Comet' grrrrrrrrr!

[@RILEYLEIFSON_UTAH]

More than 80 videos in and I still couldn't tell you his name...

[@Themanwithnoscreenname]

24 minutes seems a long time for such a Miner topic.

[@Plons0Nard]

😉

[@philipdove6987]

Ok so the Navy had a use for Miners safety lamps, but why have the navy in Manitoba? it's not even on the Great lakes.

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

Great story Gills! I won't be buying one of these off Ebay. Peace!

[@Zbigniew_Nowak]

In the Middle Ages, this guy walking with a long torch was a convict or a sinner doing penance for serious sins.

[@crakkbone]

Are you related to Daven? He’s my favourite ❤

[@dk6024]

How would a hurricane lamp have performed? It insulates its flame really well, no?

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

Insulated from wind, not flammable gas. These were invented because regular lamp designs didn't work well.

[@James-ly3rx]

Its steven like the male name. Not steph

[@thea.m.p.co.467]

I believe either are 'acceptable' pronunciations, and if it really mattered, they never should/would have changed the spelling. Or should I start calling my sister _Stevanie?_

[@cocotoni1977]

This is the first time I hear Stephenson pronounced this way. Do you have any source for this pronunciation?

[@PIX_BMS]

Pretty sure it's pronounced Steven-son (the train guy).

[@haruhisuzumiya6650]

The light is to detect for CO2

[@mavhc]

Is it pronounced Steph en son or Stevenson?

[@James-ly3rx]

Like the male name steven

[@najroe]

those who try to use a mere lamp to heat a engine block in -40 are likely to be very disappointed in the results,

[@paulabraham2550]

Stephenson is pronounced Stevenson. English spelling eh?

[@phantomkate6]

Even though I already knew this at the time, I got tripped up once or twice when visiting the UK. 😂

[@christopherperry8693]

In British ENGLISH, Setphenson is pronounced SteVenson. Sorry, it was so annoying. "Stephen" (Steven) is my middle name.

[@solidamber]

Stephenson is pronounced "Steven son", Steven and Stephen are pronounced the same in English.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

Oh no, the class myth again. Davy was born into a working class family in Cornwall, his father was a stone worker. Geographic location had nothing to do with it either, they were born equidistant from London and it took longer to travel to the capital from the far South West than it did from the North East.

[@johncage5368]

"* could cause an explosion" (*: any word of your choice) 😉

[@marksmith9295]

Thankfully the intro was NOT explosive!⛽️

[@bobthecomputerguy]

"produced a continuous shower of sparks they thought wouldn't have enough energy to set off the fire damp. Though a series of explosions proved that theory incorrect." Remember kids, the hallmark of good science is reproducibility.

[@Wtfinc]

What do you mean “MY video on Today I Found Out”? Do you write for Simon? Do you own Simon? Im confused. Are you in a basement?!

[@marksmith9295]

Gilles has written over 500 scripts for that channel. Simon reads what has been researched by many authors.

[@kidmohair8151]

nothing pertinent to add. merely feeding the maw of the algo-deities of the tube'y'all.

[@chrisknight6884]

Stephenson is pronounced Stevenson ....... just saying

[@davidholder3207]

QI.

[@TheRoosterLIVE]

3rd comment!