I got gifted most of a tin of carbide from the old family farm as i tend to have odd things. I don't have a carbide lantern... yet... but now i have a bit of information as i move forward in looking
I just finished a book about a couple of high school grads who in 1909 road their bikes from Santa Rosa Ca to Seattle and the had a carbide bike light.
sure, it is an interesting story. A good look at the West Coast US at the turn of the century. “Two Wheels North” by Evelyn McDaniel Gibb. I found it on Amazon.
Very cool lantern. As a kid back in the mid 60s I bought a pint tin of carbide for 10 cents (.96 cents to days money) so carbide had gotten very expensive.
They are junk. They were legendary for the time. Tons of reasons... Just 1 pin-hole in the tank, the gas will escape. The used water will rot almost any metal. (Deffinitely, brass, cast iron, and aluminum) The "rot" if left on the metal would need sandblasting to remove, so what that means is, it the thing isnt washed and dried perfectly every night, the thing will rot. The carbide is impossible to keep dry, and will rot. If you dump the used water on the cement, it will bleach it white. I say rot, but its some kind of crystal white chalky powder left behind. And yes.... The gas produced is explosive.. so its only real use.. u guessed it... A cannon for a rowdy kid! Go buy one, dont make one out of pvc! One more thing... If you are one of those people that think taking care of a carbon knife is bad, anything carbide is worse. If you are one of those people that wonders how their trioxane cubes are able to escape from their packaging, carbide is worse.
I've seen the miners lamps and have one and a can of carbide somewhere, but have not seen the lantern. Pretty cool! When I was in the National Guard, we used the old metal film cans with a pinhole and a few pieces of carbide inside. Spit in the can screw on the top and light it to blacken the iron sights to a dead black, non-reflective sight picture for competition shooting. I'm surprise nobody remembered all the Johnson Smith novelty catalogs with their carbide cannons which were made to go off flicking the cigarette lighter wheel which was part of the design. The first shot was always the best with following shots getting weaker. I think they are still made. Thanks for the video.
After you graduate from cannons, your next step is to track down the working models of the guns. Theres a few, but the best model is the one the cops carried in the "Logan's Run" movie.
@honorableoutfitters Well from what I've been told by antique automobile enthusiasts IE the brass era cars, the lights were not so much to help you drive as to tell People you were coming.
A trick that cavers use to do to store their Carbide to ensure water doesn't get it is to put oil in the tin. Basically they get a little lift grate deal to allow them to pull the carbide up. Put it in the tin, put tge carbide on it. Then fill it with Oil, olive or vegetable oil. Basically any hard to ignited oil that repells water. Doing so allows a pound of Carbide to last years. Suggest you look up any looker cavers they love usinv carbide lights due to their heat output keeping them warm in cold caves and having a light brightest second only to LEDS.
@@honorableoutfitters will also suggest looking around at any local welding shops. They often carry Carbide in bulk for acetylene production due to safety reason. You can not go with big tanks of it cause it can self explode after a certain mass. So they use carbide to easily ship it around. Be warn you may have to buy like 10 pounds or more of the stuff thro..
At least it doesn't pour soot out like actelyne in a torch. That stuff you can't get oxygen to it fast enough. It's been to many years to remember being around the ones lit on a prewar car.
What is your opinion on using old vintage canteens? I have and old WW1 canteen. It is of European origin. It is my favorite canteen. I use it all the time. I had someone tell me that it may be leaching aluminum or lead into my water. I had never thought about that.
If there is a soldered seam you can pretty much guarantee it is lead solder. Aluminum is now known to be mildly carcinogenic. I never use anything I suspect of lead solder, aluminum I am a bit more tolerant of. You can get reproduction WWI canteens from What Price Glory but you will still need to wrestle with the carcinogenic aspect. Delve into the most up to date studies and research to make your judgement.
Will the carbide eat through plastic and if not, I can make my own and have it and can you use it in doors for a long period of time you don’t wanna be breathing and settling fumes in
I have one of these exact lanterns but cannot use it... It is missing the slotted canister that is friction fitted and can't find one... Know where one could be found?..
Carbide Lamp???????????!!!!!!!!!!! I never heard of such thing and I'm almost 70. For those like me with attention span of a gnat cant you make a video of 5 min or less to tell what a carbide lamp is and how it works, it's not a modern hybrid car motor.....
Farmers in PA used to use carbide cannons to scare off crows from their crops. So, I assume the gas is explosive.
When under pressure and suddenly lit absolutely. The lanterns and lamps have a way to leak out excess gas so pressure does not build up too much.
I got gifted most of a tin of carbide from the old family farm as i tend to have odd things. I don't have a carbide lantern... yet... but now i have a bit of information as i move forward in looking
They are really cool and way brighter than anticipated. It definitely adds a nuance!
Many automobiles from the same era also used carbide lights for driving, e.g. REO Speedwagon.....
Really?? I knew carriages did...cars make sense!
I just finished a book about a couple of high school grads who in 1909 road their bikes from Santa Rosa Ca to Seattle and the had a carbide bike light.
Sounds like an interesting story! Could you share the title of this book? Outdoor greetings from the Netherlands 🤠 🇳🇱 🏕️
sure, it is an interesting story. A good look at the West Coast US at the turn of the century.
“Two Wheels North” by Evelyn McDaniel Gibb. I found it on Amazon.
@@oxxnarrdflame8865 thanks for the info!
I like how quiet it is.
Amazing video and carbide lantern. Now I'll be on the hunt for one. Blessings and keep up the great work. 👍
I appreciate that!
This video is cool. It is awesome to see antique items in use.
Thank you! The ingenuity of them often catch me by happy surprise!
Very cool lantern. As a kid back in the mid 60s I bought a pint tin of carbide for 10 cents (.96 cents to days money) so carbide had gotten very expensive.
No doubt!
They are junk.
They were legendary for the time.
Tons of reasons...
Just 1 pin-hole in the tank, the gas will escape.
The used water will rot almost any metal. (Deffinitely, brass, cast iron, and aluminum)
The "rot" if left on the metal would need sandblasting to remove, so what that means is, it the thing isnt washed and dried perfectly every night, the thing will rot.
The carbide is impossible to keep dry, and will rot.
If you dump the used water on the cement, it will bleach it white.
I say rot, but its some kind of crystal white chalky powder left behind.
And yes....
The gas produced is explosive.. so its only real use.. u guessed it...
A cannon for a rowdy kid!
Go buy one, dont make one out of pvc!
One more thing...
If you are one of those people that think taking care of a carbon knife is bad, anything carbide is worse.
If you are one of those people that wonders how their trioxane cubes are able to escape from their packaging, carbide is worse.
I've seen the miners lamps and have one and a can of carbide somewhere, but have not seen the lantern. Pretty cool!
When I was in the National Guard, we used the old metal film cans with a pinhole and a few pieces of carbide inside. Spit in the can screw on the top and light it to blacken the iron sights to a dead black, non-reflective sight picture for competition shooting.
I'm surprise nobody remembered all the Johnson Smith novelty catalogs with their carbide cannons which were made to go off flicking the cigarette lighter wheel which was part of the design. The first shot was always the best with following shots getting weaker. I think they are still made.
Thanks for the video.
That is brilliant! Another viewer mentioned the cannon in a different video...I had never heard of them before you two!
After you graduate from cannons, your next step is to track down the working models of the guns.
Theres a few, but the best model is the one the cops carried in the "Logan's Run" movie.
Very cool lantern brother.
Thanks 👍
Got you sound synced! Looks good.
Thanks brother!
I have 3 carbide miner's lamps and a nickel plated side light from a brass era automobile and I was totally surprised how much light they put out...
I bet it would be interesting driving with one for light :)
@honorableoutfitters Well from what I've been told by antique automobile enthusiasts IE the brass era cars, the lights were not so much to help you drive as to tell People you were coming.
Awesome video.
Thanks!
Thanks Jason!
A trick that cavers use to do to store their Carbide to ensure water doesn't get it is to put oil in the tin.
Basically they get a little lift grate deal to allow them to pull the carbide up. Put it in the tin, put tge carbide on it.
Then fill it with Oil, olive or vegetable oil. Basically any hard to ignited oil that repells water.
Doing so allows a pound of Carbide to last years.
Suggest you look up any looker cavers they love usinv carbide lights due to their heat output keeping them warm in cold caves and having a light brightest second only to LEDS.
Fantastic! Thank you, I'll put some in a pill bottle and try it out. I appreciate the tip!
@@honorableoutfitters will also suggest looking around at any local welding shops.
They often carry Carbide in bulk for acetylene production due to safety reason. You can not go with big tanks of it cause it can self explode after a certain mass. So they use carbide to easily ship it around.
Be warn you may have to buy like 10 pounds or more of the stuff thro..
At least it doesn't pour soot out like actelyne in a torch. That stuff you can't get oxygen to it fast enough. It's been to many years to remember being around the ones lit on a prewar car.
What is your opinion on using old vintage canteens? I have and old WW1 canteen. It is of European origin. It is my favorite canteen. I use it all the time. I had someone tell me that it may be leaching aluminum or lead into my water. I had never thought about that.
If there is a soldered seam you can pretty much guarantee it is lead solder. Aluminum is now known to be mildly carcinogenic. I never use anything I suspect of lead solder, aluminum I am a bit more tolerant of. You can get reproduction WWI canteens from What Price Glory but you will still need to wrestle with the carcinogenic aspect. Delve into the most up to date studies and research to make your judgement.
@@honorableoutfitters thank you for taking the time to give your thoughts.
Will the carbide eat through plastic and if not, I can make my own and have it and can you use it in doors for a long period of time you don’t wanna be breathing and settling fumes in
I have one of these exact lanterns but cannot use it... It is missing the slotted canister that is friction fitted and can't find one... Know where one could be found?..
You are still using the ferro rod incorrectly.
Carbide Lamp???????????!!!!!!!!!!! I never heard of such thing and I'm almost 70.
For those like me with attention span of a gnat cant you make a video of 5 min or less to tell what a carbide lamp is and how it works, it's not a modern hybrid car motor.....
Some homes were once lit by carbide.
I didn't know that!
These constant changes in camera angle are completely unnecessary, distracting, and immensely silly. Please stop doing that.
Thank you for the honest feedback, I appreciate it