When is a miner’s lamp not a miner’s lamp? Part 1: radiator lamps
So, when is a miner’s lamp not a miner’s lamp? When it’s a radiator/sump heater!
Included are pictures of lamps hardly distinguishable from miners’ lamps, in most cases made by mining lamp manufacturers. The image below shows three Radiator lamps all with different burners.
The one with the three wicks I found in an antique shop in Tavistock, Devon, many years ago, when I first got into collecting. I was sceptical about it, three wicks and no lock, and the gauze burnt out? but I bought it for £30. Not a bad price you may say, but this was 1988! I do have some genuine underground bi-folds, and a couple of times I’ve had to make the wick adjusters for them. First time I made one, I couldn’t for the life of me, match the threads 1/4” 20 tpi, but I found eventually, that the thread on the screw has a different angle, it was an Admiralty spec. and I had to buy a special tap to finish it.
The below picture is of a Premier, a Teale, and a Primo. All nice looking lamps, and should find a space in anybody’s collection. The Teale is a separate story on its own so, more to come!
– Information provided by Bosuns Mate.
Credit. Information and photos: Bosuns Mate.
