No. 39.
PIELER LAMP.
Presented by Col. W.C. Blackett.
CONSTRUCTION.
Gauze. 36 mesh Brass.
8 ins high, tapering from 2 ins to 11/2 ins diameter.
Burner. 1/4 ins round wick burning alcohol.
The fuel reservoir is packed with sponge.
Thumb screw control.
A metal screen 11/2 ins high surrounds the flame, to facilitate estimation of gas caps.
Lock. Screw.
Air inlet is through the bottom of the gauze to the flame augmented, when the outer jacket is in position, by inlet through holes in the bottom ring. These holes can be closed by a sliding ring if it is necessary to extinguish the flame.
Tin cover. Entirely surrounds the gauze to protect it from air currents. The window (with a scale attached for measurement of gas caps) is 71/2 ins by 11/2 ins.
HISTORICAL NOTE.
This lamp was brought out in Westphalia by Friedrich Pieler in 1883.
The lamp was designed for the purpose of measuring small percentages of firedamp. It burns alcohol and has a hot flame, producing large gas caps, though its luminosity and therefore its candle power were extremely low. The screen in this case would practically eliminate luminosity.
The Pieler was greatly appreciated for measuring small quantities of gas though it was disliked because of the lack of illumination and safety.
The use of alcohol and other fuels for gas-measuring lamps was stressed by several bodies, including a Sub-Committee of the French Firedamp Commission. As a result several types of lamps were produced using alcohol or hydrogen as fuel.