Miner's Safety Lamp

This “safety” mining lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the late 19th century. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Miners referred to combustible mine gases as “damp” (blackdamp, afterdamp, and stink damp) from the German “dampf” meaning vapor, or fume.