I've just discovered that the British Association for the Advancement of
Science were showing an interest in this in the 1880s.
In 1881 it was reported that trials of electric lights were being made
at Pleasely Colliery, near Nottingham and Earnock Colliery, near
Glasgow. (Report of the Fifty-First Meeting of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science... (London: John Murray, 1882) p 778)
In 1888 it was reported that the following portable lamps were
available:-
The Swan Lamp (weight 7lb, price 27s), "In extensive use in South
Wales."
The Schanschieff Lamp (weight 5lb, price 30s), "Tested at Cannock Chase,
Mardy, Merthyr, and elsewhere."
The Pitkin Lamp (weight 8lb, price 42s), "Used at Llwynpia, Ocean
Colliery, Treviky, and elsewhere."
The Walker Lamp (weight 7lb, price 32s by the gross)
The Portable Electric Syndicate's Lamp (weight 4.25lb, price 21s)
The Vaughton Lamp (weight 5lb, price 25s to 27s 6d)
(Report of the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science... (London: John Murray, 1889) pp 816-817)
What isn't made clear is whether these were hand-held or cap lamps, and
whether the batteries were in a separate pack.
There was also an 1888 report on "Electricity as applied to Mining" by
Frank Brian, who stated that
"The applications of electricity to transmission of of power are
confined to a few collieries - so far as the writer knows, in Great
Britain to three only, viz., Trafalgar Colliery, Forest of Dean; St.
John's Colliery, Normanton; and Allerton Main Colliery, near Leeds. At
Trafalgar, what was a very small pumping plant, statred in December
1882, developed, by May 1887, into three sets of plant, doing the
underground pumping of the colliery, and that at a saving of some £500
per annum. At St. John's, a six horse-power set of pumping plant did
such excellent work that a 33 horse-power set was put down in March last
in another part of the colliery, and has since been in continuous work."
(Report of the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science... (London: John Murray, 1889) p 815)
Keith Ramsey
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