I grew up in South Wales and was surrounded by the coal mining industry ... history which fuelled the Industrial Revolution. This lamp, designed to reduce underground explosions which claimed ...

In the 19th century mining was a very dangerous business ... His prototype lamp is shown above. The new safety lamp was immediately put into production and deaths were dramatically reduced.

allowing this brighter flame to be directed and giving the miner a wider range of light. The drawback of the carbide lamp was that its open flame was still capable of igniting methane gas in mines.

allowing this brighter flame to be directed and giving the miner a wider range of light. The drawback of the carbide lamp was that its open flame was still capable of igniting methane gas in mines.