Quality mining lamps Aberdare
Ever since early history, people have used mining to draw minerals and ores from the heart of the earth to make the metals and alloys that have been required for technological advancement. Mining is a huge part of the history of the United Kingdom, particularly in the North, Wales and Scotland where whole towns sprang up around mining centres like the Lancashire Coal Field. Mining always was, and still is, a dangerous job, and over the years many attempts have been made to try to make it safer for people to go mining in the deep darkness below.
Like in many areas of life, sometimes it is the simplest ideas that make the biggest difference, and one simple idea that made mining safer was the development of safer mining lamps for illumination in the shafts. The problem with mining lamps was that before electric light was introduced, miners had to rely on candles or gas lanterns to see. This was dangerous because mines gather toxic, highly flammable gases which seep into the shafts and gather in pockets, usually near the ceiling. These pockets, known as ‘damps’, could ignite suddenly in the presence of sparks or a naked flame, and many hundreds of miners lost their lives in firedamp explosions.
Quality Mining Lamps
During the industrial revolution, many different types of quality mining lamps were invented, including Clanny lamps, the Stevenson (or ‘Geordie’) lamps and Davy lamps. These used very simple shields to stop the gases igniting near the flame of open mining lamps, making mining safer. The other major benefit of quality mining lamps was that the flame would change colour in the presence of toxic chemicals, allowing the mining area to be quickly ventilated. Even when most UK mining operations switched to electric lights in about 1900, quality mining lamps with a flame were still used to test for firedamp before each new shift.
Quality Mining Lamps Aberdare
Unfortunately, not all mining lamps were made equal, and problems could arise when poor imitation mining lamps were used. Fortunately, there were dedicated firms who knew the important life-saving use of good safety lamps and were dedicated to producing quality mining lamps. Aberdare has been home to one of the best producers of quality mining lamps since 1860, and the family run firm are still producing the highest quality mining lamps, Aberdare or anywhere else. E. Thomas & Williams Limited are proud to produce the best quality mining lamps Aberdare has to offer, for decoration and for safety.
In fact, in 2020, the Ministry of Defence had a run of quality mining lamps made by E. Thomas & Williams Limited for use in the reactor compartments of nuclear submarines, because the technology in the quality mining lamps Aberdare makes can be more reliable than modern methods of testing!
These beautiful, hand finished quality mining lamps Aberdare has to offer are beautiful gifts and practical working light sources for the home and garden. Get in touch with the firm today and get your hands on the best quality mining lamps Aberdare can provide!
