Research Type
InternetPerson
Shaun SliferDate
Jan 13, 2021Notes
In 1910 in the US, Congress established the US Bureau of Mining (USBM). This institution began its work researching and evaluating the safety of electric lighting technology. Two years later, they began conducting tests on how likely an incandescent bulb would end up igniting if its glowing filament was exposed.
Following the results, they introduced safety features into the lamp’s designs.
They also tested other attributes, including durability, liability to leak electrolyte, the period of operation, light output and more. The purpose was to create a testing process with certain conditions and requirements so that any future lamp would not end up causing ignition and would be suitable for use by miners.
In 1914, two engineers from the USBM, John Ryan and George Deike, got together and started the Mine Safety Applications Company. They enlisted the help of Thomas Edison to develop electric lamps that miners could use.
He created a rechargeable battery that was small enough to be carried on the miner’s belt and later on the cap. Thus, the first electric headlamp by Edison was approved by the USBM in 1915.
(https://www.torchspot.com/miners-headlamp-history)Research Type
InternetPerson
Shaun SliferDate
Oct 18, 2022Notes
National Museum of American History:
First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover at its entrance into both the battery and lamp. The battery could power the six-candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. This lamp is a Model "P."
(https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_872013)
