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Mining Lamps, Badges & Ephemra
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Oil for Safety Lamp

Hi Guys,

Probably a really simple question but what oil should I use in a Protector Safety Lamp - just to create ambience in our living room rather than take down a pit (if there were any left open)

I used one of these lamps at Seaham and Vane Tempest but not sure of the fuel used then of it it's available now.

Any advice greatly appreciated

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

The original oil for this lamp was Cozelean which was an
Alcohol-petrol-lamp oil mixture, it was used so that the
Lamp could be lit by Flint spark or Electric Spark.
You can use ordinary Lamp oil, if you cannot get it at
Your local ironmongers or some supermarkets there are
Plenty of deals on EBay under “lamp oil” as written.
The trick is with protector lamps is to light the lamp with
The fuel vessel from the outside of the lamp, this is best done lifting the
Glass.
PS IF you have women present its best to get a nice
smelly lamp oil.

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

You cannot lift the glass on a Protector without taking the bonnet off, and to do this you have to take the vessel off.
Mully must not like Women, with his comment on smelly lamp oil. Maybe this is the psycological root of all his odd behaviour. Rejection by his Mother probably for faking pebbles into baby sweets to sell to other toddlers.

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

Many thanks guys,

I've also been told that Coleman Fuel (for camping stoves) is very similar to Colzaline but apparently my lamp is a Flat Wick Type 1 (I think from 1950s) so Lamp Oil is apparently the safer bet.

If it helps, here are some images of the lamp. The Fuel Vessel is stamped with a 56 and the base of the bonnet (beneath the glass) with 50 S - Could the year of manufacture be 1956 or 1950 ?

It seems to have been made by Johnson Clapham & Morris (JCM Type 1) ? but not sure what the CL & Co. is - is this another company, or the end user of the lamp maybe?

Anyway, any information about this lamp, most appreciated






Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

This is indeed a most pleasant lamp and has a history.
In 1947 the coal mines of the UK were taken over by the government
From then on the lamps for the coal mines of the UK were the
Oldham cap lamp made in Denton Manchester and for the safety lamp
The Protector safety lamp also made in Manchester.
This led to a problem as the coal mines before 1947 had contracts with
The lamp makers on supply of lamps to the coal mines.
This lamp which has the marking of J.C.M. its full makers name is
Richard Johnson Clapham and Morris so from 1947, Protector lamps
Started to make lamps to meet the needs of the contracts of the lamp
Makers before 1947.
As to the owners of the lamp, C.L.&Co the nearest I can get to this is
Clifton and Kersley group of Companies, which had a number of companies
Beginning with the name Clifton in the Manchester area.
Anyway enjoy your lamp, once it is lit or unlit this lamp will make a fantastic
Point of conversation.

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

i wonder what mr wolf of sheffield would think of you drivel.

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

how do you get clifton & kersley from C.L.&Co ?

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

Johnson, Clapham & Morris. This firm made lamps from the 19th century.
Protector manufactured some of their styles of lamp. In the 1950’s when J.C.M. stopped making lamps, the manufacture of J.C.M. lamps was carried on by Protector and One type of J.C.M. lamp is still
manufactured today.
This is from an excellent potted history of Protector and it's lamps at
http://www.protectorlamp.com/images/Protector%20Lamp%20History.pdf

The spiel posted by MULLINER is not THE Mulliner. wrong grammar and spelling. Someone else on the Bandwagon.

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

Wow, thanks guys,

Some great information there.

I notice that there is some friendly rivalry on this forum too :-)

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

ONOTOMAN,
This is not friendly rivalry.
We as members of the NMMA deplore fakers and fraudsters who rip collectors off for hundreds of pounds.
The real Mully has over several years produced hundreds of fakes, he was getting £100+ a time for them, until he came to the notice of collectors who were quite knowledgeable. There followed a campaign of awareness to as many as we could reach because Trading Standards and e-bay couldn't care less. Now he gets a few pounds or does not sell. He appears under constantly changing alias's and to complicate matters others sometimes immitate him for peverse pleasure. I am sure the one who answered your query was an alias. However it helped you out with your query. BUT if you are buying anything be very sceptical and carefull.

Re: Oil for Safety Lamp

Hi Charles,

Oh, I see :-(

I have noticed a lot of Indian-made and what seem to be Gift Shop lamps being sold as real safety lamps on Ebay. I've just bought a Type 6 lamp on there, so hopefully it's as it should be when it arrives.

The reason I was after a Type 6 is that in 1980s, I did an apprenticeship with Huwood (conveyor maker) and as my trade was to be as a Service Engineer I did underground training at Seaham and Vane Tempest for 3 months. As part of this I worked with the ventilation guys and we stripped, prepared and used a safety lamp - which I've been told would have almost certainly have been a Type 6, so I thought I'd like one, just to play with.

The mines closed a few months before I was to complete my apprenticeship, so my career went in an entirely different direction (now in marketing) but that short time in the mining industry was a great time in my life, great experiences, great people and interesting kit to play with.

Anyway, thanks for the information.