This early safety lamp enclosed its flame in a glass cylinder capped with perforated metal, restricting airflow to prevent the ignition of explosive mine gases. It was invented as an alternative to the wire-gauze Davy lamp and was heavily favored in the collieries of North East England. If explosive gas entered the lamp, the flame would simply extinguish rather than ignite the surrounding air.
Heard on the job
The museum has a well-preserved Geordie lamp showing the original thick glass cylinder that Stephenson designed.
Insider tip
The lamp is the origin of the nickname Geordie for people from the Tyneside region of England, where it was exclusively used.
Do not mix it up with
- Davy lamp: The Davy lamp used a wire gauze cylinder to enclose the flame, while the Geordie lamp used a glass cylinder with a perforated metal cap.