Carbide Lamps

All photographs by and Copyright to Rauleigh Webb.

For more information about any/all of these lamps purchase a copy of "American Miners' Carbide Lamps" by Gregg S. Clemmer. You can get it from the National Speleological Society (NSS) bookstore.

New link to NSS bookstore needed

An Autolite on a cloth cap. This is how many of the "wired" carbide "cap" lamps were worn. Those lamps with spear's for wearing on bracketed helmets were a more recent inovation. Manufactured by the Universal Lamp Company, Chicago, Illinois - stopped manufacturing in 1960. - Carbide Lamps

Grier cap lamp. Manufactured by Grier Brothers Company Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - first lamps produced in 1911. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

Guys Dropper, unfired, with original box. Produced by the Shanklin Manufacturing Company, Springfield Illinois starting in 1913. Lamp and box held in an American Collection. - Carbide Lamps

Hansen Force Feed Cap lamp. Manufacured by A.L Hansen Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

A Justrite cap lamp bottom holder with one base attached. Up to three spare bases could be held on the bottom holder and clipped onto the wearer's belt. Bottom Holder held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

Hand held Justrite Lamp. Manufactured by the Justrite Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois - Founded 1906. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

Three different Justrite Cap Lamps. The left most has the rubber grip for easier removal of the base. The center and right hand lamps are variations of so called Justrite horizonal. Manufactured by the Justrite Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

Two Justrite carbide Lanterns - Called "No 10's" they were recommended to mine superintendents and railroad personnel. Lamps held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

A rare Maumee duplex. Manufactured by the Maumee Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania between 1914 and 1915. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

Victor cap Lamp. Manufactured by the Justrite Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

Early Victor cap Lamp. Probably manufactured by the Victor Lamp Company, Cincinnati, Ohio - 1915. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

A Wolf hand held lamp. Manufactured by the Wolf Safety Lamp Company of America, Inc. - Brooklyn, New York - this lamp is probably manufactured in the USA after WW1. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps

A Zar cap lamp. Manufactured by the Zar Corporation, New York. Lamp held in an American collection. - Carbide Lamps