New Mexico Mineral Symposium — Abstracts

Flame lighting brought daylight underground to permit the mining industry to turn the nation's natural resources into sources of wealth and power. Light to extract coal from the eastern coal mines and metal ores from the western hard rock mines underwent a development of flame lighting technology that helped fuel the industrial growth of the U.S. for more than 100 yrs. Four types of flame lighting are examined in this paper: oil wick lamps, safety lamps, miners' candleholders, and carbide lamps. A Hall of Fame approach is used to identify the best and brightest of the individuals, companies, and lamps that were developed for underground use.

Records from the U.S. Patent Office provide a dated guide as to how each of these lighting types came into being, was developed, improved, and ultimately replaced with something better. The table below puts these lighting types and their patent history in perspective. 

A number of criteria were examined in this extremely subjective evaluation including industry leadership, outstanding designs or designer, elegant styles, innovative products, uniqueness, and performance, but the overriding decision for hall induction was based on the author's likes and dislikes. A nominating criterion is attached to each selectee. The number of inductees into the Hall of F(l)ame was based somewhat on the relative number of patents for that specific lighting type, but the final decisions were purely subjective. For each inductee, a selected group of photographs are included in the paper that serves as a pictorial history of mine lighting over the 100-yr period. Brief historical details for each are also identified. It is hoped that the presentation serves as an overview of mine lighting, especially for non-collectors, and can help to identify that rare lighting artifact to be found at flea markets, antique shops, grandpa's garage, or grandma's attic.

Oil wick lamp inductees

• John Christopher and George Anton—Premier wick lamp makers in the U.S.
• The Trethaway Brothers—Produced most varieties of wick lamps.
• Edward Rollins—Patented lamp that was manufactured by 8 different companies over 40 yrs.
• William Tunnessen—Second largest producer of wick lamp models.
• John James and George Grier—Early manufacturer of a variety of wick lamps.
• Lawrence and August Husson, Philip Knippenberg—Only detachable and interchangeable lamp holder.
• Honorable Mention: Beall Brothers, Martin Hardsocg, and John Dunlap.

Safety lamp inductees

• The Wolf Family of Lamps—The mainstay of safety lamps in the U.S.
• Davy and Clanny Lamps (American Safety Lamp and Mining Supply Co., Hughes Bros.,
and Everhart Brass Works)—Major early suppliers (pre-1910) to the U.S. coal industry.
• Ernest Koehler—First safety lamp approved for use in the U.S. by Bureau of Mines 1915.

Candleholder inductees

• Charles Cleaves—Blacksmith extraordinaire.
• John Lindahl—Most distinctive candlestick.
• August Eck—Elegant and impractical design.
• Nathan Varney—Most prolific stick manufacturer in the U.S.
• Ludlow-Saylor Wire Co.—Second largest manufacturer of candlesticks.
• Fancy Sticks—Artistic and elegant craftsmanship.
• Gabriel Werntz—Mechanical ingenuity.

Carbide lamp inductees

• Frederic Baldwin—Father of carbide mining lamps.
• Justrite Manufacturing Co.—Most prolific manufacturer of carbide mining lamps in U.S.
• Jacob Sherman—Most successful businessman in carbide lamp manufacturing.
• Frank Guy and George Shanklin—Most successful association of inventor and manufacturer (Tie).
• Frederic Baldwin and John Simmons—Most successful association of inventor and manufacturer (Tie).
• Ralph Arnold Most unusual design.
• Fred Belt—The lamp that looks most like a hand grenade.
• Augie Hansen—Premier carbide lamp designer.
• Charles Hoppe—Designer of elegant lamps.
• Honorable Mention: William Frisbie, Maple City Mfg. Co., Grier Bros., and Dewar Mfg. Co. 

References:

1. Clemmer, G. S., 1987, American miners' carbide lamps: Westernlore Press.
2. Eureka! The Site for Historic Mining Collectibles: www.eurekamagazine.net.
3. Eureka???The Journal of Mining Collectibles: Issues 1-45, privately published, 1992-2008.
4. Forbes, J. J., and Grove, G. W., Mine gases and methods for their detection: United States Bureau of Mines, Miners' Circular 33, revised June 1937 and March 1954.
5. Haynes, D., 1990-1997, The illustrated glossary of miner's oil wick lamps, v. 1-3, published by author.
6. Kouts, P. L., 1981-2006, Miners' carbide lamp reference series, v. 1-10, published by author.
7. Pohs, H. A., 1974, Early underground mine lamps???mine lighting from antiquity to Arizona: Arizona Historical Society, Museum Monograph, no. 6.
8. Pohs, H. A., 1995, The miner's flame light book: Flame Publishing Company.
9. Post, H., www.halslamppost.com.
10. The Collector's Mining Review, Issues 1-8, privately published, 1996-1998.
11. The Mining Artifact Collector, Issues 1-22, privately published, 1988-1994.
12. Thorpe, D., 2006, Carbide light: Bergamot Books.
13. Wilson, W. E., 1985, Miners' candlestick patents: Mineralogical Record.
14. Wilson, W. E., and Bobrink, T., 1984, A collector's guide to antique miners' candlesticks: Mineralogical Record.