002.194.Idrija

Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija

510:IDR;RZ-572‒RZ-577, RZ-580‒RZ-586, RZ-612‒RZ-633, RZ-638‒RZ-649

Mine, Daily life

Carbide lamps, used in the Idrija Mine, were designed differently from the acetylene lamps, which were used in other mines. They are of various shapes, depending on whether they were intended for miners or for the Idrija Mine management personnel. Most of them are numbered (somewhere blurred) – the number on the carbide lamp matched the miner’s registration number on control panel (fatal hour) in front of the pit’s entrance. Carbide lamps are composed of two parts. In the lower part, the carbide is installed (10 hours of burning with a single loading of 17 dag of carbide), its loading is enabled by the bolt at the bottom of the carbide lamp. The upper part contains water. The regulator regulates water flow. The burner (“brener”), composed of two parts, is missing in most cases. They have a handle on the side, and a hooked hanger on the top (a hook). A light reflector is also typical.

47 carbide lamps of different dimensions.

Iron, steel, brass.

The beginning of the 20th century.

The preserved carbide lamps are of different manufacturers (most often from Friemann und Wolf, G.m.b.H, Zwickau and Gondar, Aquila; their own local production), and the manufacturers of some carbide lamps are not known.

For carbide lamp operation, optimum water flow was crucial. The water dripped from the upper part of the carbide lamp onto the carbide (in the lower part), and the process was regulated. Carbide in contact with water produced the gas for the lighting – acetylene. These lamps gave off more than three to four times more light than oil lamps and were also more affordable. After 1913, the miners used the carbide lamp for going into and out of the pit and to light the area of the ore digging. The carbide lamps, which gave off much better light, were also used for private purposes – for various tasks such as bobbin lacemaking and socialising in the evenings. They were also a good indicators of gas in the pit, as they turned off when the concentration of the gas was too strong. The handle was used for hanging the lamp on the belt. The hook was used for hanging the lamp on the beam or the rock crack. In 1960s, they started using battery lamps for working in the pit. The miners mostly sold their carbide lamps to the surrounding villages of Idrija, where there were used until electrification (1970).

The carbide lamps (47 in total) are being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. They are a part of the mine collection of Idrija Municipal Museum. Ten carbide lamps are a part of the permanent museum display “Five Centuries of the Mercury Mine and the Town of Idrija” and are therefore available for the visitors to see. The same applies for the carbide lamp, which is part of the display of the typical Idrija Miner’s House. The rest of the carbide lamps are stored in the depot and can be used for various museum exhibitions. They can be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.

Idrija Mercury Mine (personal, working equipment of a miner).

Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 2 depot; Gewerkenegg Castle (showrooms 7); the Idrija Miner's House – Bazoviška 4.

The carbide lamps are mostly well preserved. In some samples, smaller components (valve, burner thread) or a light reflector are missing. On most of them, a restoration-conservation procedure was performed, all inner and outer parts of the lamps were cleaned and protected. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance. Some of them need to be restored.

- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

6. 3. 2018

Never