NEIMME: Lamps
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No. 60. CLIFFORD LAMP. Click to view image |
HISTORICAL NOTE.
This lamp was produced in 1887 by Mr. W. Clifford who had conducted tests on safety lamps at the Neepsend Works of the Sheffield Gas Company.
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No. 38. Click to view image |
Presented and "made by Mr. William Clifford about 1886 to meet what he conceived to be the requirements of a practical lamp in point of diffusion of light. The intention was to cast a dioptric lens in the curved portion of the glass. The safety part of the lamp was never finished".
That is all that is known of this unique specimen. It has some very interesting features, however. It is a complete lamp, though its 'safety part' may not have been up to Mr. Clifford's requirements.
The air intake is from an opening 11/2 ins x ? ins. in the back of the lamp, thence through a gauze in the lower half of the central (black) body, under the (white painted) central portion and up to the flame.
The products of combustion passed from the top of the glass through a narrow chimney into the top half of the central body, through a gauze and escaped from a 11/2 x ? ins. hole in the back of the lamp.
The central body has a horizontal partition separating the intake air from the return air.
Dismantling.
The oil vessel is removable after unscrewing its supporting ring. When the oil vessel is detached the central body, which is hinged at the top, can be opened