Bunker lantern.. in the limelight

**Kohima** · 07-31-2022, 02:49 PM

Good day all,
Sorting through some stuff today, I stumbled upon this delightful little chap.. A German calcium carbide lamp, commonly used in dugouts and bunkers.

Made by F. Hermann Hesse, Nuremberg, the two-part body contains calcium carbide (lime) in the bottom half (the ‘generator’), and water in the top.
The wing nut is used to adjust the flow (drip) of water, thus regulating the amount of acetylene gas produced, and the brightness of flame from the spout.
The flat screw cap to the left is the water filler. The spiked hook allows the lantern to be hung from a roof beam or fixed to an upright support.

These lanterns were commonly employed in the mining industry and on the railways, at around the turn of the century, and were very likely commercially procured.
I’d love to fire it up someday, but it would take some pretty serious de-clagging before that’s possible.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 07-31-2022 02:49 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Chopperman** · 07-31-2022, 02:56 PM

No pictures for me.

**Kohima** · 07-31-2022, 03:13 PM

Over excited numpty forgot to add them!

**BodhiEtheridge** · 07-31-2022, 03:14 PM

That’s a very cool piece! I’ve not seen one before, nice condition too.

**Chopperman** · 07-31-2022, 03:23 PM

by BodhiEtheridge

That’s a very cool piece! I’ve not seen one before, nice condition too.

I agree, that's a really cool piece. I have seen one before but never understood
how they work.-- Thank's for that. I learned something new today.

**AndyM35** · 08-02-2022, 12:17 PM

A very interesting item! Would be great to see it fired up again.

**SimonSorenKam** · 08-03-2022, 01:39 AM

My grandfather worked for the Coal mines in Virginia in the 40's and 50's. I have tins of unopened carbide. When I was a little kid we'd put some into the little US bore cleaning cans and crank the cap on with water in them and run!