Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1383:
Description
This is a classic example of early 20th-century mining gear, featuring a brass Justrite carbide lamp mounted on a miner’s cloth cap. The lamp itself is a No. 100 series, a reliable workhorse for underground illumination, clearly marked “JUSTRITE” and “MADE IN U.S.A.” on the brass reservoir cap, indicating manufacture by the Justrite Manufacturing Company, likely in Chicago, Illinois. The lamp uses a simple chemical reaction between water (from the upper reservoir) and calcium carbide (in the lower base) to generate acetylene gas, which is then ignited at the burner to produce a bright, steady flame. The lamp is affixed to a worn, brown canvas cap, which has a distressed, black, possibly rubberized or oilcloth brim/visor. The underside of the cap shows a stained, natural-color fabric lining, with a few small metal rivets visible where the lamp mount is secured. Condition is consistent with genuine use in a harsh environment: the brass lamp shows a deep, aged patina with some surface dirt and minor scuffs, but appears structurally sound with all components present. The canvas cap is heavily soiled, stained, and its brim is cracked and delaminated from age and wear, but the overall presentation is robust and authentic. From the Western display in Donley’s Wild West Town.
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