1930s GUY'S DROPPER AUTO-LITE CARBIDE MINER'S LIGHT LAMP

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Product TypeEarly 20th century calcium carbide / acetylene gas Guy's Dropper miners lampCondition / GradeOverall (VG+) Adjusting for age and probable amount of usage this gas lamp is in excellent condition and is complete. It looks like it has either the original felt or a mass of hemp rope as a filter. This miner's lamp has a wonderful warm butterscotch / caramel patina.Reflector: (VG+) Complete with no apparent inflicted damage, just normal wear and tear such as a notch in the brass where the striker material would make contact. The front is pretty bright but could use a buffing.Carbide Chamber: (EX- ) Complete with very slight dings on the bottom. The sides are sharp. The seal is tight.Water Chamber (VG+) This chamber is complete with very few dings. The embossed dial has a small ding just above "ON"Vent Hat: (VG+) The cap to the water chamber has a very small ding.Handle: (EX) The FLAT handle is as straight as the day it was forged. There's slight abraisions along the taper where it would sit in a helmet.Body General: (VG+) The tapered neck of the water chamber has very small and minor dings. The collar that attaches the chambers to the reflector has two or three small metal tears from contact with the reflector.Please carefully review the pictures.ManufacturerUniversal Lamp CompanyPart NumberAuto LiteCountry of ManufactureUSACirca1 930sEarly 20th century "Guy's Dropper" calcium carbide / acetylene gas miner's lamp, 1930sEarly 20th century "Guy's Dropper" calcium carbide / acetylene gas miner's lamp, 1930sEarly 20th century "Guy's Dropper" calcium carbide / acetylene gas miner's lamp, 1930sEarly 20th century "Guy's Dropper" calcium carbide / acetylene gas miner's lamp, 1930sEarly 20th century "Guy's Dropper" calcium carbide / acetylene gas miner's lamp, 1930sEarly 20th century "Guy's Dropper" calcium carbide / acetylene gas miner's lamp, 1930sEarly 20th century "Guy's Dropper" calcium carbide / acetylene gas miner's lamp, 1930s About calcium carbide / acetylene gas lamps"In 1892, Thomas Willson discovered an economically efficient process for creating calcium carbide in an electric arc furnace from a mixture of lime and coke. The arc furnace provides the high temperature required to drive the reaction. Manufacture of calcium carbide was an important part of the industrial revolution in chemistry, and was made possible in the US as a result of massive amounts of inexpensive hydroelectric power produced at Niagara Falls before the turn of the twentieth century. In 1895, Willson sold his patent to Union Carbide. Domestic lighting with acetylene gas was introduced circa 1894 and bicycle lamps from 1896. In France, Gustave Trouvé, a Parisian electrical engineer, also made domestic acetylene lamps and supply gazometers." * Gas lamp background courtesy of Wikipedia About Guy's Dropper miner lamps "This type of mining lamp is called a "Guy's Dropper" model originally made by the Shanklin Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Illinois, first manufactured in 1913. The lamp is named after its inventor, Frank Guy, a miner from Springfield. Frank Guy partnered with George and Edgar Shanklin to produce this lamp, and the lamp saw tremendous success through World War I. The Shanklin Mfg. Co. was sold to the Universal Lamp Company in 1932, who continued to make "Guy's Dropper." * Guy's Dropper background courtesy of Smithsonian Institute website About calcium carbide and acetylene gas "Calcium carbide is a chemical compound formed by heating lime and carbon in an arc furnace. It is a hard, grayish, rock-like substance, and its molecular formula is CaC2. Calcium carbide reacts violently with water, producing acetylene gas. Although there have been hundreds of different patents for carbide lamps over the years, the basic principle remains the same. Water is dripped from a reservoir into a lower chamber in which carbide is kept. The chemical reaction occurs within this chamber, which is made airtight through the use of a gasket. The acetylene gas produced passes through a filter, and then on to a burner tip. A reflector placed around the burner focuses and condenses the light produced by this flame." * Carbide and acetylene gas lamp background and instructions courtesy of Abandoned Mines website: Link: forums(dot)abandonedmines(dot)net(slash)viewtopic(dot)php?t=892 Mouse over pics for larger images. Check out JoySaver's other auctions!Condition Key: S = Sealed, M = Mint, NM = Near Mint, EX = Excellent, VG = Very Good, G = Good - " + / - " add inbetween grades to the aforementioned Seller's Terms & Conditions of Sale1.) WYSIWYG - "What you see is what you get." Seller makes a strong effort to thoroughly describe the product as well as provide detailed pictures.2.) Buyers should resolve questions about the product before bidding so they feel good about 3.) Products are well packed and shipped USPS from the Los Angeles, Calif. area typically within one business day, sometimes two.4.) If a buyer purchased shipping insurance and a package arrives damaged, they should not open it until they take clear pictures then document any damage inside. Save all packaging.5.) Shipping insurance is not automatically included. If a buyer is concerned about carrier damage, they must specify the dollar amount of coverage and pay for it at the time of invoice.With insurance, buyers file a claim directly with the carrier, not the seller. However, the seller will provide material support in the form of pictures, receipts and bills of lading.6.) Vintage items are not returnable for a variety of reasons including fraud, buyer mishandling and carrier damage.7.) Unless otherwise stated all shipments are F.O.B. Origin. While some eBay sales have a "Free Shipping" enticement, the cost of shipping is factored into the profits of the anticipated finalsales price.8.) Feedback extortion and false claims will be vigorously defended. Go test another seller.9.) Not all buyers want combined shipments so contact the seller to ask for a combined shipment and potential cost savings.10.) All above aside, let's talk it out if there's a problem. You're a valued customer. :) read more

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