Author Topic: German miner's lamp  (Read 2301 times)

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Offline bigdaddie47

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German miner's lamp
« on: February 18, 2013, 02:29:29 PM »
Greetings- the other day I was in the older topics and saw a miner's lamp (can't remember where, "old age-too much input).
I have one and took pictures. It was my Great Grandfather's in the Saar region of Germany (coal mining). The Shield is Brass and says GLUCK-AUF  and has a D on the left side., thumb screw cover to load the oil and and seal the pot. It has the wire pick to pull up the wick and a nasty hook to dig into the wood or coal ledge. I did try oil and a wick and it works.
 I'm not perfect at closeups. I has a 3" round by 1-3/8" base -Total body is 4-1/2" by 3" and stands 4" with length of 9 1/2" to top of hook.
 I finally have something not many people have. Love this site....Joe

Offline Billman49

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Re: German miner's lamp
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2013, 02:49:17 PM »
Nice to see a genuine grubenlampe - I bought one from eBay.de and it turned out to be a tourist souvenir/replica...

See: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grubenlampe

Only used in 'dry'coal mines (naked flame + firedamp = explosion), more common in stone and ore mines
« Last Edit: February 18, 2013, 02:51:00 PM by Billman49 »

Offline Bill Houghton

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Re: German miner's lamp
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2013, 11:53:49 AM »
That is one cool artifact to have in the family!

Offline RWalters

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Re: German miner's lamp
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2013, 10:25:38 PM »
Incidentally, Gluck Auf, which translates loosely to "Good Luck", is a traditional German miner's greeting still in use in parts of Germany with a strong mining history.