Lamp, Safety
Object number2014.69.6 a,b
Manufacturer
Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated
Manufacturer
Mine Safety Appliances Company
Date1949
OriginPittsburgh, PA
OriginWest Orange, NJ
MediumMetal; Plastic; Rubber; Glass; Paper; Ink
Credit LineGift of Mine Safety Appliances Company
DescriptionEdison Electric Safety Cap Lamp with Parts List paper booklet.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a - Battery case): 9 × 5.125 × 2.125 in. (22.9 × 13 × 5.4 cm)Length x Width (a - Cord): 38 × 0.313 in. (96.5 × 0.8 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (a - Lamp): 2.938 × 3.125 × 3 in. (7.5 × 7.9 × 7.6 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 9 × 5.938 × 0.188 in. (22.9 × 15.1 × 0.5 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
Old MSA catalog/inventory number on one of the belt brackets handwritten in black ink "2001.09.08".
Marks(a)
Raised text on both sides of lamp "EDISON".
Inscribed text on both sides of silver-tone metal plates on sides at top of battery case:
on frontside "PERMISSIBLE / ELECTRIC CAP LAMP / APPROVAL NO 29", [seal of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines], "ISSUED TO / THOMAS A. EDISON / INCORPORATED", and "CAUTION / THE BATTERY AND HEADPIECE HOUSING SHALL NOT BE UNLOCKED OR OPENED BY THE / LAMP USER EXCEPT IN THE LAMP HOUSE."; and on backside "EDISON / MODEL R4 CAP LAMP / Thomas A. Edison [signature] / MADE BY THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED / WEST ORANGE, N.J. U.S.A."
(b)
Front cover has black printed text and details: "PARTS LIST / of the / EDISON ELECTRIC / SAFETY CAP LAMP / [Drawn image of Thomas Edison in profile] / MODEL R4 / BULLETIN S. B. 3827A / THOMAS A. EDISON, INC. / EDISON STORAGE BATTERY DIVISION / Main Office & Factory, West Orange, N.J., U.S.A. / WORLD DISTRIBUTORS / Mine Safety Appliances Co., Pittsburgh, Pa."
Additional text and images throughout booklet and on back cover.
Historical NotesBeginning in the 1920s, the lamps were made by the Edison Storage Battery Company in conjunction with Mine Safety Appliances Company. The flameless safety lamp greatly reduced the risk of explosions by ridding mines of the earlier open-flame lamps. The R4 model was introduced in 1949.
Related person
Thomas Alva Edison
(1847 - 1941)
On View
On view
American Safety Table Company
1930-1939
c. 1917
