F.a.o Togo

[Tilly2]

Now that Dad's lamp is ready to go, I have bought some Zippo lighter fuel to put in it, as advised by the man who refurbished it.

I'm a bit unsure of how much to put in, initially, and a bit scared really. Shall I just put a few drops in first of all, or shall I fill up the reservoir? I do know that whatever I do, I shall take it outside before depressing the plunger at the side!

[Togo]

Half fill the reservoir for now Tills. A full reservoir was intended to last for a full "shift" and more when lit. Leave it until the wick has taken up fuel and it will light. Good luck Tilly.

[DTCwordfan]

may your light shine forth - and its the last night of Hannukah tomorrow!

[Togo]

Just a question Tills, does the lamp have the remote striker and flint for lighting? Most lamps had to be lit in the "lamp room" and it was a serious offence to open them underground.

[Tilly2]

I don't know about a remote striker, Togo. It has a toothed gadget at the side which you pull out and then push in quickly to create the spark.

[Tilly2]

Dt i don't celebrate Hannukah.

[237SJ]

I remember being on an aircraft about 30 years ago when we thought we might me might have been heading to an emergency situation because we could smell fuel. Turned out, it was someone's Zippo lighter.

[237SJ]

Happy days - when the passengers could smoke (not)

[shoota]

Tilley lamps.
Tilley hats.
Maybe if you go into business you can get a Tilley till too, Tilly"...

:-)

[Togo]

That is the remote striker Tilly. Basic lamps issued to the hoi polloi were lit in the lamp room and could not be reignited underground.

[Tilly2]

So dad was one of the hoi polloi? I can live with that, Togo. Just want to get it lit for Christmas Eve.

[Tilly2]

Shoota, you have lost me? Is there a guiding light?

[Tilly2]

Gotta go. Back tomorrow.

[DTCwordfan]

don't expect you too, neither do I, but the story of stretching the oil out is an interesting one....

[Togo]

Deputies, shot firers, and management only carried them Tills. Face workers or other miners who were deemed responsible were issued with lamps that were ignited in the lamp room, and if knocked over or mishandled could not be re lit without breaking a seal. Big No No.

[Tilly2]

Thanks for that, Togo. So the remote striker was taken out of the lamp before it was issued to the miners in the lamp room?

[Togo]

No Tills. Some lamps did not have the flint striker and were only lit in the above ground "lamp room" where they were then sealed. They had to be returned at the end of shift with the seal unbroken. Officials and rescue workers etc had their own personal lamp with the striker that enabled them to extinguish the lamp and relight it when necessary. The basic lamps were issued on a first come first served basis and those men rarely got the same lamp. This was the case where I worked though it may have been different at other mines of course. The lamps when returned to the "lamp room" were cleaned and checked and refueled ready for another issue, safety being the main concern not illumination. That was provided by the battery worn on a belt which gave a headlamp clipped on you helmet , via a heavy cable, power. They themselves are another very interesting story, because much the same "protocol" was in operation regarding their issue.

[Tilly2]

Ah, dad was in the rescue. That must be why his lamp has a striker.

Thanks again.

[Tilly2]

Done it!

[Togo]

Nice one Tilly. :))

[Tilly2]

Thank you for your help, Togo. x