Miner’s lamp
In addition to a fellow miner, miners in the dark subterranean workings require a reliable lamp as an indispensable companion, irrespective of its design. Thus, the lamp, as the miner’s faithful companion, also became one of the symbols of mining.
Initially, splint torches (čelešniki), bioluminescent fish, then primitive oil lamps, oil lamps (lamps burning heavy oil), candle lamps, torches, carbide lamps and lamps based on the design of Humphry Davy’s 1816 lamp — safety lamps (lamps fitted with a metal gauze that prevents the flame from spreading beyond the lamp) — were used for illumination. More recently, battery-powered lamps have been used: beginning with handheld lamps, then those hung around the neck, followed by headlamps with the battery pack on the belt, and now lamps with the batteries incorporated directly into the helmet-mounted unit. Batteries were continuously improved, thereby reducing the size and weight of the lamps.
Davy’s first mine lamp burned oil and, lacking a glass chimney, emitted very little light. The illumination improved considerably once cylinders were introduced. The first lamps were sealed with a lead seal. Wolf, a German working for Friemann & Wolf, designed lamps with an internal ignition device and a magnetic closure.
In the nineteenth century, lamps fuelled by rapeseed oil, known as repičnice, were used in Slovenian mines. Certain lamps, in addition to providing illumination, also served to monitor firedamp. Thus, methane and carbon dioxide were detected in the second half of the nineteenth century by means of gasoline safety lamps, which had already been known in England in the early nineteenth century. Subsequently, more precise alcohol-fuelled safety lamps by Piller were introduced.
Safety lamps were introduced in our coal mines at the beginning of the 20th century. In Trbovlje, oil lamps were completely replaced by Davy gasoline safety lamps as early as 1893. In Velenje, safety lamps were gradually introduced following the major mining accidents of January and February 1893, when 32 miners lost their lives in a methane explosion. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, safer and improved carbide lamps were also introduced in our country. Electric lamps were also introduced in Slovenian coal mines in the early years of the 20th century. The first battery-powered electric lamps were introduced in Trbovlje, where a small dynamo for charging the lamps had already been in operation prior to 1904.
Unfortunately, some lamps were also responsible for mining accidents, particularly in areas lacking proper ventilation and where unsuitable lamp designs were used.
gasoline safety lamps, known in Zasavje as ‘ziherce’, differ from one another in their methods of ignition, their means of closure (they were, in fact, not permitted to be opened in the mine), and the materials from which they are constructed.
In Idrija, until 1912, jamšarice or ripsovke (rips – oil), also known as pušca, were used; they were made of iron or brass and were shaped like a flat iron or a horseshoe. After 1913, carbide lamps were introduced (providing ten hours’ burn time from a single filling of 170 g of carbide). After 1963, only battery-powered lamps remained in use.
During the period when carbide lamps were in use, miners employed them to provide illumination both at their workplace and on their way to work. In the case of breakwater, it was said that a carbide cannon, when swung with sufficient force, could also have a formidable effect (not merely in jest; it was reportedly true).
However, as it is always necessary for people to know who is who, this was also apparent in the lamp. The manager used a lamp made of brass sheet metal, which, when cleaned, shone as if it had been gilded. The supervisor’s was smaller, of a sportier appearance, and featured a large, specially shaped reflector. The one belonging to the ordinary miner was made of durable black sheet metal and was therefore stronger than all the others.
In Kanižarica, carbide lamps were used until the end of May 1965, when a methane ignition occurred at the coal face; as a result, the coal-face miner Jože Štukelj sustained burns. Fortunately, the gas concentration was not at explosive levels. Carbide lamps have been replaced by battery-powered lamps.
In Senovo, oil lamps were used in the 19th century and, towards the end of the century, miners’ safety lamps were introduced. In March 1928, permission was obtained from the Mining Office to use carbide lamps, but a ban on their use was imposed in 1975, when Krušik battery-powered headlamps were introduced.
The use of gasoline safety lamps in Velenje and Trbovlje was prohibited in 1992.
A special variant of lamps, referred to as the turbo lamp, is suitable for worksites where compressed air is used but electricity is unavailable. The lamp contains a built-in turbine that generates an electrical current of 110 V for its integrated bulb.
The miner’s lamp is frequently celebrated in songs and, by custom, is also present at the final farewell to a deceased miner.
Source: Miran Mošnik