Beginners Guide to        Buying Carbide Mining Lamps 

    Whether you are a novice buyer or an experienced collector, eBay can be an excellent source for buying carbide lamps. If you are new to mining lamps, there are a few things you must consider before bidding on the many lamps that appear regularly on ebay. There are a ton of common lamps on ebay including Justrite, Autolite, and Guys Dropper that make an excellent foundation for the start of a new collection. A few things to look for when purchasing your first carbide lamp are:

1. Reflector - Usually come in 2 1/2", 4", and 7".  Stay away from the big 7" reflectors.  These were manufactured for campers and hunters and typically are too large for a display lamp.  Look for a nice reflector that still holds some shine and is still in round.  A dented and mangled reflector is worthless.  Reflectors can still be purchased new from Bob and Bob out of Lewisburg, WV for around $12 a piece, or sometimes they can be found on eBay. The strikers can be refurbished with a spring and a flint out of any zippo or Bic lighter.

2. Tips - A cap lamp without a tip is no longer functional and incomplete.  Look for a lamp that still has a good tip (located in the center of the reflector) Again new Premier tips can be purchased new from Bob and Bob (see above).  

3. Carbide Chamber - or the bottom of the lamp.  On Justrites the carbide chamber was well made and they typically have withwtood the test of time.  On Autolites be wary and be on the look out for any cracks on the sides of the chamber.  Cracks can be repaired but, without a repair will make for a firery mess if the gas gets past the cracks and reaches the main flame.  Guy Droppers are the same as Autolites, keep a look out for cracks.  If the lamp you buy has a bad or missing gasket (located at the bottom of the threads) don't mess with it. Throw it away and buy a new one through Bob and Bob or contact Dave at Eurekamagazine.net for a new one. As a side note - a "Bumpergrip" or "Aircooled Grip" is a nice bonus for any lamp as long as it is still in a pliable condition.

4. Water Chamber - or the top of the lamp. This is where you need to pay attention.  Don't pay a bunch of money for a dented up cracked lamp.  For Justrites there are typically two different types. a horizontal and a vertical type tank.  The horizontal Justrites are older and better made.  The vertical "Streamlined" type tanks are prone for denting on the top.  As for Autolites the same applies for buying a lamp that doesn't have a bunch of dents.  Autolites are easy to dent and there are a ton on eBay for sell in that condition.  For Guy Droppers pay special attention to the bottom of the water tank or the skirt where the threads go into. These lamps are prone to huge gaping cracks in the skirt.  Stay away from cracked Droppers all together. 

Some of these lamps came from the manufactuer with a bright nickel coating.  you will always pay more for a nickel coated lamp, but they are usually worth the price if the nickel is still intact and not rubbed or flaked off.  Don't pay too much for a lamp that isn't worth the price.  Restored lamps and unfired lamps are nice and worth the price you pay but, you can have someone professionally restore a 9 or 10 dollar lamp for only $10 and you end up with a lamp that looks and works like new.

   Use your head and search for uncommon terms to find lamps that are off the beaten path per se. Instead of searching for "carbide lamp" spend an extra few minutes searching in categories and terms such as "kersosene lamp" "mining/miners lamp, etc and you might come accross a nice or even rare carbide lamp for cheap.  I would also reccomend 100% consulting the web pages of several collectors before making a serious investment.  You can find links to some of the best collectors, restoration service and links to mining equipment collectors, values, carbide, boxes and more on the following page:

Below are two lamps that I paid less than 15 dollars a piece for, had restored, and resold for over $120 a piece.

Remember, whether you are a collector or wanting to make a little money, sometimes you have to spend money to make money and/or  have something beautiful.

Be sure to click the "Yes" box if you have found this information to be informative.  Thanks - Wayne