Introduction
Since 3 to 4 thousand BC we have used coal as a fuel source for warmth and metalworking, Deep beneath the earth, for centuries, miners have ventured into the dark to extract coal, the black gold that fueled industries and kept our fires lit and our homes warm.
Early Lighting in Mines
In the beginning, miners relied on simple open flames – candles and oil lamps, casting flickering shadows against the coal faces
and children as young as six years old would sit for up to ten hours a day in the dark sometimes with no light of any kind as doormen/trappers ready to open the door for the carts when they came.
Dangers Lurk Below
Clearly, there was a need for light underground, But with the light came danger. Methane gas, which was invisible and deadly, this gas seeped and pooled into the mine’s veins, awaiting a spark. where a simple flame spelled disaster and a massive explosion and cave-in. One method of detection of methane gas was to take a bird typically a canary in a cage underground. If the bird died the miners knew to run.
Innovation for Safety: The Miners’ Lamp
Out of necessity, the miners’ lamp was born. A beacon of safety in the treacherous dark.
There was a lamp known as the clanny lamp, it was invented by Dr William Reid Clanny who was an Irish Physician, he created this lamp in response to frequent mining explosions.
However, miners were very slow to adopt the Clanny lamp despite its safety features due to its bulkiness and poor light it produced and it was not cost-effective which contributed to the continued use of open flames.
Thomas & Williams: Pioneers in Safety
The history of Thomas and Williams miners’ lamps begins with Evan Thomas, an ironmonger who founded Cambrian Lamp Works in Aberdare in 1860. The company initially focused on improving the Clanny safety lamp, making it more secure and adaptable to various mineral oils. Their No.7 lamp gained widespread recognition and was recommended for universal use in mines. By the 1890s, Thomas and Williams had garnered prestigious awards, including a gold medal at the London Mining Exhibition. Their safety lamps, both electric and oil-powered, became essential tools in mining and other industries worldwide, contributing significantly to safety advancements in hazardous environments.
Below is a Link to a YouTube film Where I Bought a Thomas and Williams Clanny Lamp from the first few years of Production at a Car Boot Sale In The UK.
Eccles Lamps: A Legacy of Protection
Eccles miner’s lamps, integral to mining safety, were developed in Eccles, England, by the Protector Lamp & Lighting Company since its formation in 1873. With the first lamp patent in 1890. These lamps offered a safer alternative to open flames, significantly reducing the risk of methane gas explosions in mines. Their robust design and innovative safety features, including a mechanism to extinguish the flame if gas was detected, made them a preferred choice among miners, marking a significant advancement in the mining industry’s approach to safety.
In the years since the company’s creation and the first patented lamp, the company is considered to have spent this time on research and patents.
Eccles lamps became synonymous with miner safety. Their robust construction and safety features set a new standard, igniting a debate – which lamp was truly the miner’s best ally?
The Debate: Which Lamp Shone Brighter?
History doesn’t crown a victor but celebrates the innovations that brought light to the dark, protecting those who ventured below.
A Token of Safety: The Tally Check System
Beyond the lamp, there was a tally check system. This system was a small brass disc that was a lifeline. Each miner’s token was exchanged for a lamp, this was a roll call, ensuring no one was left behind in the event of a cave-in.
Open Cast Mines
Open cast mining, also known as surface mining, involves extracting minerals from the earth through large pits dug into the surface, making it distinct from traditional shaft mining where tunnels or shafts are dug deep underground. The practice dates back to prehistoric times, with early examples including the Roman Empire’s use of such techniques for extracting materials. The key difference lies in the method of access: open cast mines operate at the earth’s surface, allowing for the extraction of minerals over a wide area without the need for extensive underground tunnels.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Light and Safety
As the lamps faded into history, their legacy endures – a testament to human ingenuity and the unyielding spirit of those who chase the black gold beneath the earth.
