Restoring a miner's lamp Since we collect the lamps (not carbide or elsewhere), we have had the opportunity to test a large number of methods to restore everything that was being ...
Hydrochloric Acid Electrolysis ... ... Abrasion ... Etc!
Each method has advantages but also a very large number of defects. In all cases, once the object is stripped, the biggest problem is how we will protect it: grease, Rustol, galvanizing, coating ...
galvanizing does not lend itself to all the lights (and is very complex to implement), and varnish the Rustol distort the object (and perhaps irreversibly), fat (which I preferred to here) has the merit of stabilize the metal, but then can not handle the lamp without putting them full of fingers!
few days ago, after dozens of methods hated, I finally get their hands on a product that I almost want to call a miracle drug: Crème Polish black "
But what s 'does it work exactly?
This product is a cream made of black carbon black, graphite and wax that are used for maintenance of stoves, fireplaces, chimneys etc. plate. ... It is applied with a rag or brush, then rubbed with a soft cloth! The big advantage of this product is that it creates a patina that protects the iron and steel from rust without damaging the lamp (or make it sticky) while giving the object a characteristic color. ...
Demonstration I bought a lamp rave quite original because it has a hook-like gaffe.
Material used: (I am not a shareholder of Castorama, just that it is 100m from my home and it remains accessible to all budgets)
- 1 sheet of emery cloth. Grained 0 (You can find more at Norauto end, it is emery cloth for bodywork. Problem: much more expensive) (3.25 €)
- 1 box of steel wool No. 000. (6 € 94)
- The famous product, Cream Polish (9 € 50: The price may seem excessive, but with a pot, you're a hundred lamps ...)
After an hour of work, here is the result !
Before / After
And here is a warning light, including a right Motie was treated with cream polish and the other half with a traditional fat. The color difference is clear.
RV in 6 months to see if the cream in the long term is as effective as fat!
Here is a rare lamp produced by Booty in the 50s, early 60's. It is apparently a last attempt loot to upgrade lanterns operating SNCF (symbol stamped on the top of the lamp). If, however, was referenced by the Service of Supply, it would have being very little controlled by different institution operating in direct competition with the electric lamp model 1961. 
HistoRail a dossier of 50 pages to the railway lanterns. If you want to learn about the history of lighting is what number you should definitely buy. Hundreds of carbide lamps with their history. To buy absolutely! 
If Tom Sawyer had to have a carbide lamp, it would certainly Justrite! 
The advantage of acetylene generators is that they operate with an immersion system. Carbide is contained in a basket that just dive into the water immediately to generate acetylene. 
