The Carbide Miners Lamp - Bringing History Back to Life!

[@billfleming1409]

My dad used one of these in the coal mines in Eastern Kentucky back in the day.. He would use the wire from a screen door to keep the orifice clear. I've seen him many times stop and unravel a 6 or 8 inch length of wire from the screen door screen and wrap it around the water contril handle so he would know where it was if the lamp went out. He could empty the "slack" out of the carbide chamber and refill it and then fill the water reservoir again all in the dark. He would wait til he heard the gas spewing out then cover the reflector with his hand for several seconds, 15 or so, then he would sharply pull the heel of his hand across the striker wheel. Thr result was a loud pop and a lit flame The size of the flame was controlled by the rate of water dripping into the carbide chamber. My brother and I were constantly stealing a few grains of carbide and blowing stuff up. We also used the soot in the flame to write on stuff, late 50s early 60s version of graphetti, I suppose.

[@BealsScience]

Bill Fleming that is incredible! Thank you for sharing your story and some history of the use of the lamp! I can’t imagine having to rely on a carbide lantern deep in a dark mine. They were a hardy bunch!

[@jeremyfowler1519]

Cool story thanks for sharing

[@keithsage7258]

Hubbard

[@Vinnay94]

That is such a cool story. I really want a Carbide Lamp.

[@jimsahlstrom8294]

My grandfather took me to this mine in British Columbia back in the 1950s we went to the mineshaft he told me to go back, till I found a ladder that went down into the ground deep, I looked up and saw the silver courts and crystals, just as I was trying to knock off a piece for grandpa my light went out. And I climbed the ladder in the dark, saw the light at the end of the tunnel. That was 70 years ago.

[@GraflexGuy]

It's true, I was the lamp.

[@SALTrips]

BC? Which mine?

[@mattmarzula]

Still gay?

[@darksid356]

I’m from BC and a huge mine history fan, which mine did you explore?

[@toxico1152]

My grandpa bought me a happy meal once

[@Vinnay94]

Apparently some Miners still use them to this day due to the light quality as it's probably the closest to Sunlight where as LEDs whilst more efficient and brighter have a lower CRI (Colour Rendering Index).

[@gamemeister27]

Some LEDs have CRIs over 90, but I suppose color can be important in mining, so the incandescence is hard to beat

[@pavelperina7629]

I think they are/were used for cave exploration, because it works in humid environment and they are not destroyed when you drop them from few meters.

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

@@pavelperina7629 You can also carry lots of carbide and water for long expeditions.

[@SpannersSheds]

im a caver and still use my carbide lamp

[@dbreardon]

@@pavelperina7629 That is what I used carbide lamps for back in the 1970's. I was in a caving and rock climbing club back in high school!

[@mlwhite786]

OH my gosh! I haven't seen one of those since I was a young girl! My step-dad worked in a slope mine and used one of those carbide lamps. He didn't have a helmet though, he wore a cap that had a clip embedded in the cap and hung the lamp on that while the lantern rested on the bill of the hat. This sure brought back a lot of memories from the 40's. I loved the smell of the carbide. Back then, we also had kerosene lamps in our home. We didn't have electricity or indoor plumbing so when we needed to go to the outhouse after dark, this was a great way to light up the pathway. Those were the good old days! Thanks for showing us your treasure.

[@BealsScience]

Thank you for the comment!

[@mlwhite786]

@@BealsScience As an octogenarian, I love seeing old things like this from an era that was so very much unlike today. Life was simple but we were happy. No electricity, no indoor plumbing, often times hungry when a mine went dry, but we survived it.

[@flat-earther]

@@mlwhite786 hi mlwhite have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. I got it in my about tab.

[@massgator1]

thanks a bunch for telling me where to get my calcium carbide i got it yesterday i waited to night time to light up my carbide miners lamp it stayed lit for four hours i walked around my back yard to make believe i was a miner in a coal mine i loved it so much that i ordered more calcium carbide today so i can light up my miners carbide lamp i could not believe the amount of light that carbide miners lamps give now i know why they are very useful in the mines thanks for this video one of the best videos i have ever seen in my life two thumbs up.

[@BealsScience]

Wow! Thank you for all of the kind words! I am glad the video helped out and that you've got a working carbide lamp! Take care and thanks for watching! Craig

[@Anoba_666]

Thanks a lot. 😊

[@GroveDave]

A fascinating restoration job. They also used those type of lamps in old entertainment theaters before electric stage lights. I believe they called them Lime Lights, hence a saying “Being in the Lime Light”

[@BealsScience]

Thank you!!

[@manofwar447]

Limelights were weirder actually. They used a hydrogen-oxygen flame jet that was directed at a quicklime lump. This produces an ultra bright white light. 😀

[@elizabethwilliams7369]

Thanks for sharing the science of carbide lanterns. Can hardly believe they wore those carbide lamps on their heads; brave men these were. Both my grandfather's were miners, one for coal, the other for lead.

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for the comment!

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Testimony to the craftsmanship of a simple tool. When things were NOT disposable.

[@BealsScience]

So true!

[@arthenry498]

My father was a coal miner in Illinois in the forties and fifties. We had some of these and they were used for fishing and outdoor activities. They were always clean and at the ready. There was a piece of screen wire twisted on the regulator bar on top used to clean out the flame orifice. PROPER operation went thus. You would put a small handful of carbide in the bottom of the lamp. Water was already in the top. Then you would spit in the carbide for the first wet to start the lamp. Screw the bottom on and make sure it is tight and the gasket is not crimped and is sealed properly. Then, holding the lamp in your left hand, cup your right hand over the reflector to trap the acetylene in there and hole your palm on the spark mechanism. THEN, you slide your hand off the reflector, rubbing the spark mechanism providing ample sparks into the gas rich mixture trapped under your hand. Normally, you would get a nice POP and your lamp was lit, and could be adjusted with the adjuster on top. Lamps were thoroughly cleaed each night when finished.

[@BealsScience]

Thank you for the fantastic explanation! My grandma told me nearly the same sequence about her father. She stressed the “spitting” into the carbide to get the reaction started.

[@Meatislife]

Used to play with calcium carbide as a kid. Never knew what it was. Just thought they were cool rocks that bubbled in water and were flammable lol. I can still remember that smell 25 years later.

[@BealsScience]

The smell never leaves your brain, doesn’t it?! It is very distinct!

[@MOTOMINING]

Hey, 2 hours ago, I was on my way out the door, saw an ad for one of these, so impulsively bought it for $50! It's actually in great shape and water drips freely! I put a flint in it, so all i need is fuel! Great video, and awesome that your lamp has personal history and memories attached to it.

[@BealsScience]

Congrats on finding a good, working lamp! Let me know how it burns when you get some carbide!

[@englishwomanjodibordeaux7439]

I have one identical to this, and was wondering if anyone’s interested in buying it. It belonged to my husband’s uncle.

[@dbreardon]

I used a carbide lamp back in the mid 1970's. I used to go spelunking (caving) in high school and that was the primary method used by cavers back in the 1970's and 1980's. Outdoor/athletic stores sold carbide lamps and even the carbide (in a dark blue can) was sold in outdoor stores that catered to hikers, campers, rock climbers (I did that too) and cavers. This is way before most outdoor/athletic stores turned into your standard athletic fashion stores. In the "olden days" outdoor/athletic stores actually catered to athletes and outdoor people with good, top of the line outdoor/athletic equipment.....stuff you rarely find in today's athletic stores like Dick's or Bass Pro shops.

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for sharing! I need to take mine out and try spelunking!

[@elgpao4260]

I think it's amazing to make our elders smile and trigger their memories. I wish I had my grandparents still to see their eyes light up and watch them smile. I feel like that is one of the best things in the world👍🏼👍🏼 You are a awesome grand kid for doing that for your Grandma🙂🙂

[@BealsScience]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@volvo09]

Yes, that was lovely!

[@elgpao4260]

@@BealsScience yes sir 🙏🙏

[@elgpao4260]

@@volvo09 Thank you🙂

[@cwez11]

When I was in the Marines, our shooting coaches would carry carbide lanterns that looked almost exactly like this in their coaching kits. You could get them, at least up through the 1980s, new at most sporting goods stores. They used them to blacken our rifle sites before we would shoot for annual qualification. The carbide produced a very sooty flame. Today, they use a powdery spray-on product made for this purpose. I haven't seen a soot pot or carbide lamp in use at the range for many years.

[@flat-earther]

hi cwez11 have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. I got it in my about tab.

[@shmehfleh3115]

Man, it must've taken some mighty big brass balls to strap a miniature blowtorch to your forehead, and use it to light your way while mining for COAL! Really puts my griping about running out of decaf in the break room in perspective.

[@Zoroaster4]

Yeah I'm surprised they could even do that especially if they were blast mining it seems to me that you would just be having coal dust explosions all the time.

[@zachariahmorris833]

The Flashpoint of the coal.is lower than the temperature of the lamp. It just like how you can put a cigarette out in a bucket of diesel

[@Zoroaster4]

@@zachariahmorris833 Yeah that's not true the flash point of coal is ~850°F and acetylene in open air burns at ~4000°F.

[@zachariahmorris833]

@@Zoroaster4 is it too small.of a flame to ignite the coal seam then?

[@Zoroaster4]

@@zachariahmorris833 If I had to take a guess it's that it's rare to get enough coal dust suspended in the air to cause an explosion. But im not sure.

[@simeonlssarg1321]

Was visiting a Gold mine in Silverton CO yesterday. The Miner showed us their equipment from back in the day. Part of that was the carbide lamp. I was wondering how it works. Thanks for your video!

[@BealsScience]

You are welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@safetyamsv3515]

I once worked in a chemical plant producing calcium carbide on an industrial scale... we used to export small chuncks (

[@flat-earther]

cool story BTW safetyamsv have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. I got it in my about tab.

[@MA-bt8il]

This was absolutely so sweet! I love how you honored your Grandma and the memory of your Great-Grandpa in this video, in addition to the history you wove into science (or shall I say the science you wove into history...) Thank you so much for sharing. I have a "Permissible Miner's Safety Lamp" from my step-father's anthracite mining days. I have no idea how to make it work, so I was searching for a way to repurpose it into a standing table lamp. I found your video instead, and while I still do not know how to do it, I was blessed by your video. I am also thankful that showed me that I might unwittingly create a chemical reaction if I tried to clean it with water! Sheesh! Thank you for rescuing me from potential danger and for your enthusiasm! If you have any ideas, I would welcome them! Blessings!

[@BealsScience]

M A thank you for the kind words!

[@livelycemetery3220]

I think it's your excitement about what you do that makes me want to do things like this too. You're not my boring lackluster chem teacher trying to droll on about things that don't get my attention. Your channel is by far my favorite and the most addictive. Thank you for existing so that you may do the stuff, Mr. Beals.

[@BealsScience]

I am easily excitable...just like a puppy...but without a tail...and only two legs...and...

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@BealsScience This is the first vid I have seen of yours. What a breath of fresh air on YT. I bet you are a good instructor. Real science, (not political science), and engineering. I am scared that they are the only studies left that use reason to figure out reality. I enjoyed. Thank you. Doug in Michigan.

[@fritzwilhelm8258]

Amazing. My great grandfather was a Welsh coal miner, not, incidentally, in Wales around the turn of the last century. He used the same kit. They lost a lot of people, wandering around with open flames surrounded by coal dust. You and I are both very lucky to be.... anywhere.

[@BealsScience]

So true!!!

[@ApexLight7]

I didn't expect it to be so bright. Amazing to see it alight again.

[@BealsScience]

It is impressively bright, isn’t it?!

[@lighty805]

My uncle found one of these under a house they were cleaning . still works !

[@liondirk]

As a kid growing up in gold country my mom and dad helped work the last claimed gold mine in Jamestown Ca. I remember using these lamps to go down in the mine.

[@cathyriggs942]

I was so excited to find this video!! I recently found a carbide miner’s lamp exactly like yours in a box of my Father’s belongings. My son wants it and I shared this video with him in case he and his son’s want to try and get it working again. It would have been used by my Father’s Grandfather, my Great Grandfather, my son’s Great-Great Grandfather and my Grandson’s Great-Great-Great Grandfather. If they get it working it would be the 5th & 6th generation reviving it! THANK YOU for sharing how to do this! P.S. My Dad was a chemistry professor and would have loved what you are doing here on UTube.

[@BealsScience]

I am so happy that I could help! Thank you for the kind words! Please let me know if they get it back to working order!

[@Montana_horseman]

I was riding my horse around an old coal mine not far from house today. (1920's-30's) I saw a small unusual can and stopped to pick it up. It said Auto-lite, universal lamp company on the bottom. I did a search on YT and it took me here. It's a carbide can from the bottom of the lamp you showed here. Very cool to see one lit! Thanks.

[@BealsScience]

That is a great find!!!

[@thelovertunisia]

Having taught at university myself, I love the way you explain things and make them interesting.

[@BealsScience]

Thank you for the kind words!!

[@thelovertunisia]

@@BealsScience Pleasure is mine. Greetings from Tunisia. Teaching is tiresome although most laypeople don't know that.

[@flat-earther]

@@thelovertunisia hi thelovertunisia have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. I got it in my about tab.

[@ScoopDogg]

Your Great Grandad will be proud of you : )...We still use the lime acetylene carbide lamps in Yorkshire in the UK for caving/pot hole caving mostly

[@BealsScience]

Thank you!

[@sherryleeperdue9576]

So neat! I have my grandfathers lamp. Looks just like this one. I'd say it works. It's clean as a whistle. 😊

[@BealsScience]

👍

[@grundyb]

Cool! My grandfather was a miner in New Jersey! That calcium carbide is what they used to write their names inside the mines and on the walls. They would write the date.

[@BealsScience]

Interesting!!

[@sedevacantist1]

As a child, I had one of those. I would take my hand and cover the end for half a second and then slide my hand over the striker, it would explode and it sounded like a rifle shot. I never got hurt and had lots of fun. It was like holding an explosion in your hand, but it had to be done outdoors if you valued your hearing. I discovered it by accident and perfected the technique.

[@BealsScience]

I built a cannon that uses carbide and I agree, the sound is deafening!! It can shoot a ball ~100 yards!!

[@joshuamurphy8512]

A fellow teacher, I am taking a grad class on NHD and reading Life in a Jar and they mentioned carbide lamps. I realized I've only read about them. That you for the post. Now I know how they work and it helped bring the book book to life.

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for the comment! I too had only read about them so imagine my delight when I found one on grandma's shelf! Glad you found the video interesting. Good luck with your grad class and enjoy summertime! ~Craig

[@solomonshepherd4824]

I had bought quite a sturdy carbide lantern with a hook when I was a teenager and my chemistry teacher made my day by lighting it in class.

[@flat-earther]

cool BTW solomonshepherd have you become a flat earther yet? If not I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. I got it in my about tab.

[@ibanezza6341]

That's history Freaking cool that you got it working Never realized that thing would be so bright

[@BealsScience]

👍

[@Javelina_Poppers]

I had one of these as a kid back in the 50s/60s. I bought it along with a cannister of calcium carbide from our local Western Auto store. Wish you'd shown how to properly light it. You covered the reflector with the palm of your hand for a few seconds to allow the acetylene to build up and then you'd rapidly pull your hand sideways causing your palm to spin the flint striker wheel throwing sparks and igniting the gas flame.

[@BealsScience]

Sorry that I didn’t show that. The flint was broken on this one so I had to light it using flame.

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

i was reading in the encyclopedia just yesterday about this acetylene lamp. it said they were quite expensive to buy and run during that time. they showed a 1908 landcaster vehicle with 2 front and 2 side lamps. it said motorcycles, cars and bikes had them in the day. but as technology progress the lamp was phased out of use.

[@BealsScience]

Great info! Thanks!

[@rs2143]

My grandfather had one on his bicycle back in the 1930's and 1940's. My dad told me . He rode it to work back in the day .

[@BealsScience]

That is incredible!!

[@boojay111]

just been looking at the UK painter Norman Phillips who was a miner and in his spare time painted his life underground and the men he worked with. Came here to find out what colours would have lit up the men and ponies as they worked and thank you for answering the basic question as his paintings reflect the bright intense light that lit up your hands as you demonstrated.

[@garymucher9590]

I have one too that was used in the coal mines. But I haven't cleaned it up wanting to preserve the original setup. Thumbs Up!

[@BealsScience]

Thanks!

[@ccrx6700]

That was one cool video. My grandfather worked in the mines back than and had a carbide light on his hat too. Awesome presentation.

[@BealsScience]

Thank you!!

[@kswetbak]

I still have my dad's lamp just like yours. Dad worked in the Arkansas coal mines 1 day and did not even go back to get his pay. 200 feet down in a 1 man elevator, then lay on your side 12 hours in a 3 foot tall tunnel in 6 inches of water chipping out coal. When I was a boy we would use it for a froging light. Hold it in your left hand and shine it in the frogs eyes and with your right hand shove the frog in the mud, get a good hold of it, put it in the minnow bucket. No gig holes and the frog stayed alive much longer.

[@BealsScience]

I can’t imagine mining in those conditions!

[@LanternLooney]

Cool! My grandpa has an old carbide lantern that i think my great uncle used when he worked in a mine. Im gonna try and get it working. A cool thing, is that it has its original box, instructions, and parts! It has a cleaner for the nozzle where the flame comes out so i dont need acid! But worst comes to worst, he has some muriatic acid in his garage as well.

[@BealsScience]

Demonic Darkness fantastic! I hope you are able to get it working! Let me know how it goes.

[@Blustone60]

Cool Hot!👍It's good to remember and use this excellent light source 👍

[@BealsScience]

👍

[@snowwhite7677]

No wonder Coal Mines blew up back in the day! Coal Dust Clouds+Open Flame=💥💥💥

[@BealsScience]

True!!

[@dbreardon]

Methane was/is the real worry. It is why they put canaries in a coal mine....dangerous methane gas. Coal dust, not so much.

[@24934637]

Lovely to see one working! I've seen them loads of times being carried by cavers years ago, but when I've been going down a cave, I've always used electric. I'm amazed at how bright it is!

[@eds3073]

man...that is so very cool. I never thought it would have been that bright. Thank you the science and brief history lesson...YOU ROCK

[@BealsScience]

Thank you!!!

[@MrBran61]

I actually have a miners helmet from the 30s with a carbide lamp on it. Just recently I found a carbide lamp in the original box with a can of carbide full.

[@BealsScience]

We’re you able to get it to work?

[@Smithsgold]

Very nice !!!!

[@BealsScience]

Thank you!

[@MrDegsy69]

Really lovely to see this charming thing brought back to life and create so much nostalgia and happy memories. I noticed it had no glass lens assembly or lamp housing unlike the Lucas bike lamps of that era? Presumably that was to allow for a faster and therefore brighter burn rate and improved heat convection that simply would have cracked and scorched the traditional glass lens and lamp housings of that time. That burn rate must have easily had the intensity of a blow lamp to prevent the naked flame from snuffing out in the draughts which would have been prevalent a plenty in the coal mines in which it was intentend to be used.

[@tiffanyshanley1419]

So cool. I've seen many of these lanterns, coming from a coal mining town in PA. Actually the next town over is currently 20 years into a working mine fire. Anyway, I can't imagine working with that thing on my head. I'm still kinda confused on the water part but so happy you got it working!

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for commenting. Can you tell me about this 20 year mine fire?!

[@richardfoster9499]

I have a couple of carbide miner's lights and would love to get them working.

[@colinremmer2417]

My Dad used to manufacture these carbide lamps at Premier Lamp in Leeds, UK

[@fuelban]

Living history in action, ... Really good stuff and very informative too... I believe early motor bikes used such lights too, nice 1, thanks... Thom in Scotland.

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for the nice comment!

[@tonybegley1218]

That’s so cool I have 2 of them I’m going to try to clean it up and light it thanks

[@BealsScience]

Glad I could help! Let me know how they turn out.

[@TerryLemke-qe4oh]

That's really awesome thanks!

[@BealsScience]

No problem! Thank you!

[@jbird167]

Thanks for the advice on cleaning the hydroxide from my 1930s Auto Lite, I've been hoping to see the veteran breath once more. I'll try to give an update when the carbide arrives and again thank you.

[@BealsScience]

Thank you! Let me know how if it works!

[@jbird167]

@@BealsScience It lives to light dark places once more

[@Kazya1988]

So cool and so simple

[@BealsScience]

Thank you!!

[@KiwiMaker]

Wow thats cool! ive never heard of this type of lamp before

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for watching!!

[@hibob841]

Believe it or not, carbide lamps remain in use with many cavers to this day. That's partly down to tradition and familiarity, of course-but they're also great for warming your hands! Finally, as others have noted, the soot can be used to mark things.

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for the info!

[@insaneo4430]

I can't imagine trying to use that in a mine! Thanks for the vid.

[@BealsScience]

The scary part would be when it went out!

[@johnturner2585]

Cool piece of history

[@BealsScience]

Thanks!

[@OvGraphics]

Hello Mr. Science! You popped up on my scream a minute ago and I had to write! (As a kid my handle was.....The Professor) Carbide as some early chemistry fun! I used to play with carbide (pernounced carbite around here) when I was a kid in the mid 60's. You could buy it at the hardware store. Let's talk 'carbite cannon'.... My dad taught me this... You take a used paint can, hopefully dry, and punch a hole with a nail on the bottom edge. Toss in a thumbnail of carbite and either spit on it or if you're civilized a few drops of water. Pound that lid closed and wait a minute. Touch a match to the hole and you get the most satisfying BOOM you ever heard as the can shoots the lid off! Wow! Younguns can't do that today. Even if they manage to come up with some carbide, blowing lids off paint cans would be deemed too hazardous and boomy for the little darlings. Enjoyed your piece and I see you're still getting the hits. GREAT JOB!!! Your fan in Alabam, Norm

[@BealsScience]

Thank you for sharing! I am amazed that carbide was sold at the hardware store! How fun! I’ve done a few other demos with carbide including one similar to your paint can but with a pumpkin (see below). I do another demo with a paint can and lycopodium spores that might be similar to your results with. Carbide and the paint can! I will share it as well. Thanks! Exploding Pumpkin - Halloween Science Experiments kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2fOfnWpiKmZrLs

[@BealsScience]

Exploding Paint Can - Dust Explosion Demonstration kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGHbgn-rjtSjp5I

[@TH-xo4zx]

Very cool. Very cool indeed, but there is a reason they stopped using them, as you can guess open flames in mines dont mix well unless you intend to blow it up

[@BealsScience]

So true!

[@pipleo6313]

Loved you're video. Has made me order my own lamp for camping. Thank you

[@BealsScience]

Scott Henry thank you for the kind words! Enjoy the lantern! They really are cool!

[@shutthedoor2052]

my father used to work in mines and he had a head lamp and a battery in his waist i kept playing with. i never seen a carbide lamp before

[@marknagy5892]

How cool is that !

[@45savli]

Brilliant!

[@BealsScience]

Thanks!

[@UrbanDKaye]

Always wondered how they worked. I figured it was a chemical reaction of some flavor but didn't know the particulars till now. And what a cool family heirloom!

[@BealsScience]

Charlie Van Bilderass thanks for watching! It was fun to track down the science and history on this one!

[@ScoopDogg]

You can get an adapter that is a screw on tube like a car brake line that extends the lamp part and reflector, for having it on your head and the cannister swapped for larger ones of same model by your belt

[@BealsScience]

I wasn’t aware of they! Thank you!

[@meyu2876]

How long can one load of that canister last?

[@BealsScience]

It depends on the size but most claim to work for an hour or so.

[@z_dog7739]

My great great grandpa was a miner for the Westmoreland Coal Company in Southwest Virginia and wore one of those I have it in operating condition with the helmet and all

[@nailgun540]

I've just found my dad's in the loft and think it may have been his father's.Great vid and I'll see if I can get this one working

[@BealsScience]

Thank you! I hope you are able to get it to work again!

[@waberoid]

That's really cool. I am going to make a 3D model of this. Now I know how it worked

[@BealsScience]

Cool!

[@jlewis8567]

I just bought an oil lamp. Both my grandpa's worked in mines. I am so excited!! Where do I put hase the carbide?

[@MarshallDudley]

I and my best friend had them in the early 60's. Used them every night to go exploring in the woods. Much less expensive then batteries.

[@BealsScience]

👍

[@carmelahearle957]

Awesome. Thanks so much

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for watching!!

[@WillKlaver]

.. this is awesome .. my old man had one of those .. 🔥

[@BealsScience]

👍

[@DesertJeff]

Wow that is very cool. I would love to have a calcium carbide lamp like that.

[@BealsScience]

If you watch eBay you can sometimes find them for a pretty reasonable price!

[@dariocarafa3788]

I think it's missing a piece that would be kind of cool to find: a glass Bull with a hole in the top that protects it from wind and movement which may be kind of cool to find

[@thevacuumtubejunky9774]

Great video. Working on a mine site myself, "Mine safety health administration" (M.S.H.A.) would have a coronary if they caught us using one of those lol....It's fascinating how technology has changed through the decades. Thank you for sharing! kind regards, Eric Dee.

[@klenner]

Thanks for the video ! got all the info I wanted

[@BealsScience]

Thanks for watching!

[@aaronmiller112]

Thank you for showing. Very exciting!

[@BealsScience]

Aaron Miller thank you for watching!

[@iplaymytele]

In the 70’s I Worked at “ Justrite “ Manufacturing these people are one of the largest manufactures of carbide coal mining lamps in the world world… they also invented and manufactured the ( flip up lid Oily Waste can ) and they invented and manufacture the all metal( Justrite Safty Gas Cans …! ) Seen all over the world… I HAVE Literally assembled thousands of these carbide lamps! From nothing but raw metal…!

[@BealsScience]

Thank you for sharing! That is a great connection!

[@BlaineLittle]

That is pretty cool!

[@BealsScience]

Thanks!

[@kriduro1956]

My question is, been in the mine with a open flame,is not extremely dangerous?😮 and how long that flame would lasting!

[@BealsScience]

Yes! It was extremely dangerous. But for most miners this was their only option for light. In fact, some mines in developing countries still use these lamps.

[@kriduro1956]

@@BealsScience thanks for you time

[@BealsScience]

@@kriduro1956 No problem!

[@roycelane8318]

fantastic video I was just watching a similar video of early turn of the century automobile lamps and how they worked similar to your great-grandfather's Miner's lamp also I think your channel is very educational and I'm actually learning a lot myself keep doing the good work and I always have nothing but respect for educators they are underpaid and underappreciated

[@BealsScience]

Thank you for the kind words!!

[@richlong2270]

That’s fantastic 👍

[@BealsScience]

Thank you!!

[@blistainfrancois8327]

Nice model. My father gave me an old carbide lantern. i cleaned it and now i wait to receive the carbide i bought to try it

[@BealsScience]

Good luck! I hope the lantern works for you!

[@blistainfrancois8327]

@@BealsScience i hope too and i'll going to make a lantern by myself ^^

[@hiimwaynko-4987]

I have one of these that’s my great grandma’s dads and I wanna get it to work again.

[@BealsScience]

Go for it! They are pretty amazing when you see them work, especially if you have one with that much family history!

[@hiimwaynko-4987]

Beals Science people like you make me wanna go back to school haha.

[@Zach-sg5uu]

That would be great in the arctic!!

[@BealsScience]

I agree!

[@E5Bobby]

I bought one of these lamps at an antique store years ago but I never knew how to restore it. You can bet I will now! Thank You for this video. Now, where does one get calcium carbide?

[@BealsScience]

I'm glad to hear the video will help you restore the miner's lamp! You can find calcium carbide here: amzn.to/2WuaDNk

[@jemmrich]

That is very cool! I always thought those things used a wick and oil. What would be the average burn time for one that will filled with Carbide and water? Very cool piece of history, I would love to have one myself

[@BealsScience]

James Emmrich thank you! I don't know how long it will burn with a full load of carbide. I do know that only 5 grams burned for about an 30 minutes but the water ran out more than once and I had to refill it a few times - but I had it turned all the way up so I could get a big flame...

[@billfleming1409]

As I recall, a full charge of carbide at the low flame setting would last about 3 or 4 hours.

[@Vinnay94]

I wonder if they used Oil Lamps with reflectors as well before the invention of the Carbide Lamp?

[@templeviewgate]

It runs for 4 hours at medium setting of flame. Less acetylene gas is used as it heats up.

[@dougwalsh9610]

@@Vinnay94 stfu Vinny. We ain't talkin bout that kinda light now

[@MrFaml]

Gracias por no dejar desaparecer esa tecnologia

[@BealsScience]

Gracias!

[@MoJoeRyhsen]

Awesome video dude. These lamps are pretty sweet.

[@BealsScience]

Stig's Italian Cousin thank you! And thanks for watching!

[@NekoNoAme]

Wow! Love it!

[@BealsScience]

Thanks!

[@Nautical_Steve]

I have my grandfather's carbide mining lamp, but have never been able to find the carbide for it.

[@BealsScience]

There are several providers in Kline. But availability depends on where you live - it is not legal in some countries.

[@josephboyle9973]

You should watch the movie the Devil's Miner. It's about Bolivian miners who use these lamps today. It's also kinda cool because you have been to Peru, which of course is close to Bolivia. I'm glad you explained this. I could never figure out how they got their lamps to work. They poured water into a canister, but they called it acetylene. I know acetylene is a gas... but now I understand. Thanks. PS. I'm a Spanish Teacher in NY... so what you do is so cool to me. Thanks.

[@BealsScience]

Joseph Boyle I will put the Devils Miner on my list. Thank you for your service as a teacher!! Where in NY?

[@josephboyle9973]

Massena. We're right on the border with Canada. And I'm going to be taking a trip like I said before in another video comment to Peru and I'm trying to research the effects of altitude sickness to minimize it for my students and myself. So we're going to go to Machu Picchu and Cuzco and puno with nine students in April. And I showed the video you made to my students to help them understand altitude and the use of coca tea and they found it very very helpful and entertaining so I really appreciate the video.

[@BealsScience]

Joseph Boyle you will be giving those kids the opportunity of a lifetime! If you have the opportunity, don't miss the hike to The Sun Gate and the Inca Bridge. Also, if you can get tickets, look into Wayna Picchu. It is mind boggling! It is the haystack shaped mountain that you see in all the pics of Machu Picchu but it is hard to gets passes...

[@josephboyle9973]

Cool

[@peterrivney552]

Totally wild just plain fantastic..

[@BealsScience]

Thanks!

[@LouisSiah]

how long does the flame last?

[@BealsScience]

Several hours.

[@carmium]

So where does calcium carbide come from? Does it occur naturally somewhere? Where do you get it for the classroom? And no, I'm not planning to play with any, but have been curious ever since a teacher spoke of how, as a kid, he and friends would take an empty glass jar, add water and "some carbide," screw on the lid as fast as possible and chuck it into a ravine. They stopped, he said, after one of them was too slow and mangled his hand.

[@BealsScience]

Calcium carbide is manufactured. It is made by mixing carbon with calcium carbonate (basically limestone rock). I definitely think anyone should avoid playing with it in glass jars… Thanks for your comment!

[@russelpasamontehabla]

That's so cool! My father told us story that they actually use those kind of lamp during their time. We call it Kalburo. I was confused because he say the fuel the used on their lamp was this Kalburo and dripping water. I could hardly imagine his description until I saw this.😂 Anyway we used to play with this on a bamboo cannon. It explodes greatly that most of the time the bamboo cannon is distroyed.😂

[@BealsScience]

I’ve got another video showing carbide used in a pvc cannon I built. It makes a big ‘boom’ and shoots balls several hundred yards (meters)! Thank you for watching and leaving a comment.

[@russelpasamontehabla]

@@BealsScience I saw that video. Awesome! you can also use that on your bowling ball cannon mounted on your jeep.😁👍👍👍