Carbide Lamp

A carbide lamp uses carbide to provide light. Crystallized carbide mixed with water produces acetylene gas, which is then lit and used as a source of light. The lamp was also called gandeure, which was presumably derived from the Latin candela, the Portuguese candeia, and the Dutch kandelaar. For a long time, carbide lamps were used on railroads, vessels, and mines, and also carried for fishing or climbing due to its portability. The carbide lamp shown here consists of two cylinders stacked up in two tiers with a thin pipe attached to the upper cylinder. Several fragments of carbide are fed into the cylinder, and a bolt-shaped rivet is inserted into a hole on top of the upper cylinder. When water is poured into the opening on the upper cylinder, acetylene gas is emitted through the thin pipe. Connected to the end of the pipe, a funnel-shaped ignition opening is lit to set the fire. A metal loop and hook are attached to the body for easy transportation.