Label Text:
SKINNER CATALOGUE: A British miner's lantern in heavy brass, purchased 1937 in South Africa, where it had been in use on a coasting vessel. The burner is the typical whale oil type (although there is a strong odor of kerosene), with single 3/8" diam. copper tube, the tube plate resting on a ridge inside the collar and being held firmly by a bushing which screws inside the collar. A heavy bent wire, extending through a guide in the reservoir to the outside at the bottom, provides for trimming and adjusting the wick without opening the lantern. The reservoir screws into the bottom of the frame and is held from unscrewing by a screw plug which protrudes into a groove in the reservoir. The key to the plug would be kept by the overseer outside the mine, thus preventing the opening of the lantern inside the mine, where the exposure of the naked flame might cause an explosion. The flame is surrounded by a glass cylinder, 2 5/16" high x 2 5/16" diam., made of 1/4" glass, which slides into the frame ahead of the reservoir, and is made tight by asbestos gaskets top and bottom. The glass is protected by five vertical brass rods. Above the glass is a heavy brass cylinder, tapering slightly towards the top, 5" x 2 9/16" diam., within which is a solid domed fine mesh wire cylinder. Vent holes at the bottom and top of the outside brass cylinder provide a draft between the outer and inner cylinders. A heavy wire loop for carrying fits into an eye attatched to the top plate. Marked on the lower circle of the frame is: T. & W. ABERDARE (the maker's name). 12 (the mine number). Height overall 8 3/4". Cat. 5/26/1937.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+SK+B.13.N.47.1 |
