Thomas & Williams 2a Miners Lamp .the Big 11 Inch Version Of The 8 Inch Midget. For Sale

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YOU ARE offerDING FOR A VERY NICE THOMAS & WILLIAMS 2A OFFICIAL'S LAMP (THE "BIG BROTHER" OF THE CAMBRIAN "MIDGET").

NOT A LOT TO SAY REALLY, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR ME, JUST A LOVELY LAMP IN EVERY RESPECT. IF I COLLECTED MINERS LAMPS THIS IS THE KIND OF LAMP I'D BE LOOKING FOR.

I HAVE SHOWN THIS LAMP WITH THE MIDGET I HAVE UP FOR sale THIS WEEK. BOTH LAMPS ARE BEING SOLD SEPARATELY.

ACTUAL POSTAGE WILL DEPEND ON THE FINAL sale PRICE AND THE BUYER'S CHOSEN METHOD OF POSTAGE SIGNED FOR & INSURED POSTAGE WOULD RANGE FROM UPWARDS.

I WILL BILL THE BUYER WITH THE EXACT POSTAGE COSTS AFTER CLOSE OF sale.

PLEASE PAY WITHIN 3 DAYS OF THE sale CLOSING.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE offerDING.

22/02/13 ANSWER TO A QUESTION ON WHAT TYPE OF LOCK IS FITTED TO THIS LAMP.

Hi,
I think I have this right, based on what has been explained to me.
What you are looking at is the main housing for a compressed air pump operated vacuum lock peculiar to the Thomas & Williams Lamp Company. I believe the vertical barrel you mentioned held a small threaded washer, a spring, and a plunger tooth.
The washer kept the spring in place and the spring kept the plunger tooth depressed into a slot in the locking bar below the vertical barrel (the locking bar is the big spike sticking out of the side of the lamp). When vaccuum suction was applied to the top of the vertical barrel it countered the force of the spring holding the plunger into the locking slot on the bar, sucking the plunger upwards and clear of the slot in the locking bar so the lamp could be opened by lifting the hinged vertical barrel housing up and clear of the locking bar.
It was basically an update of the 1890's Moore's Patent Vacuum Lock found on some 19th Century lamps of the Thomas & Williams Company. These locks are rarely if ever found with their internal workings present and were often completely removed.The air compressors frequently broke down which caused problems for the mines. Mines often replaced them with a simple hasp and lead rivet lock.
This is a great lamp by the way.
kind regards

This item has been shown 203 times. Thomas & Williams 2a Miners Lamp .the Big 11 Inch Version Of The 8 Inch Midget. : $192