002.208.Idrija

Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Center, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Republic of Slovenia

/

Mine

The collection includes 6 type RSN-3 battery cave lamps. Each of them is composed of housing - battery, electric current conductor and a lamp. Housing – the battery is protected with artificial mass. It is equipped with a steel loop. On the top side of the housing – the battery there is a cover, which is opened before loading. The electrical current conductor runs out of the battery, at the end of which is a round lamp, which two light bulbs. This lamp is equipped with a hanger, so that it can be attached on the front part of the protective helmet.

Housing: length 13.5 cm, width 5.5 cm, height 18 cm; Electrical Cord: length 130 cm; Lamp: length 7 cm, diameter 7 cm.

Plastic, rubber, glass, lead, steel, aluminum, copper and acid inside the battery.

1960s

Varnost, Zagorje ob Savi

In the 1960s, they gradually started using battery lamps for lighting the sites in the pit of the Idrija Mine. They started using type RSN-3 battery lamps in the Idrija Mine in 1963. Miners wore the battery lamp around their waist on the hip or on the back, using a steel loop and a leather belt. The miners attached the lamp to the protective helmet before their shift and took it off at the end of the shift. Batteries were charged every day in a battery station – lamp house (Joseph's and Francis’ shaft) after the end of the shift. This was taken care off by a specially trained worker, who performed the loading, measurements and repairs. These types of batteries were lead, sulfuric acid diluted with water was used as an electrolyte. They were replaced by nickel-cadmium batteries, which use diluted potassium lye as the electrolyte.

Battery cave lamps (6 in total) are being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. They are a part of the CUDHg mine collection. Visitors can view them within the permanent museum display Anthony's Main Road. They are a part of the presentation that shows the way of lighting the tunnels while working in the mine.

Idrija Mercury Mine (working equipment of a miner); Francis' shaft lamp house

Anthony's Main Road, Kosovelova 3, SI-5280 Idrija.

The battery lamps are fully preserved with all original parts. Therefore, no additional interventions are necessary. Security of the premise is ensured.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance.

- CUDHg Inventory Book.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

6. 3. 2018

Never