Cap, Miner's

Object Name:

Cap, Miner's

Object ID:

1979.029.01

Creator:

Shanklin Metal Products CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

Springfield, IL

Date:

circa 1930

Description:

Miner's cap with carbide lamp. Cotton, leather, brass. Used by Richard I. Boulton (1888-1971) of Manchester, NH. Cap body is somewhat cylindrical with almost flat top. Vertical seam on back. Seam around top perimeter. Outside is single-color, canvas-like fabric. Finer woven liner inside that has blue and white stripes and small portion of pink and green stripes, also some mottled white stripes in design. Heavy leather bill sewn around front. S-shaped piece of leather riveted to top of hat with two rivets and riveted to bill with two rivets. Silver-colored steel bracket riveted to top front edge of leather bracket. 0.75" diameter hole below bottom edge of steel bracket. Steel bracket has rolled front edge with vertical slot in center. Small hole in top behind slot.

Brass and steel carbide lamp with two cylindrical reservoirs mounted on top of each other, and shiny steel reflector on front that holds flint wheel igniter. Heavy brass wire at top edge on back that curves up and then curves down vertically with dull point on end. This wire fits into the small hole on top of steel bracket on cap. One wire clip soldered horizontally on lamp body, with mall detentes on end that clip around edges of heavy leather bracket on cap. Brass lamp has coarse-threaded reservoir on bottom. It has cylindrical sides and slightly knurled, rounded edge around bottom. A number of oval concave bulges around sides of carbide reservoir. Threaded portion extends downward and flares out over a turned-over edge at top of carbide reservoir. On bottom of reservoir are two slightly depressed, quartered sections that are opposite each other. Adjacent sections are slightly raised. Divisions between these sections create intersecting right-angle lines. Carbide reservoir threads into brass cylinder and threads are seen on outside surface. Also an unknown material seal at bottom of this section that presses against outside surface of carbide reservoir. On top of this mid-section is cylindrical water tank with raised knurled rib near top edge. Top edge flares out and a stamped cover fits over the sides. Stamped cover has hinged cap with single hole in top of it. Cap has extended section with two holes that fits inside a flange in top surface. This filling hole is located at back of top cover. Around front edge of top cover is stamped a number of small ridges that extend almost half-way around top from left to right. At left end is stamped: "ON" and at right "OFF". Three lines of text that are raised on inside of raised circle of ridges, in center in circular pattern: "SHANKLIN / METAL PRODUCTS CO. / SPRINGFIELD, ILL." In center of cap is vertical shaft that extends down into carbide reservoir. Bent wire piece soldered to top of this shaft that rides over ridges. Ridges act to hold adjusting shaft at a particular location between their high points. Adjusting shaft turns a cap to a cylinder that protrudes into carbide tank. Cap on this cylinder moves up and down ever so slightly to adjust amount of water that flows into carbide tank. In mid-section of lamp above carbide tank threads, is a convex, brass plate with two holes in it that slip over the adjusting shaft. Gas escapes from tank through these holes and is fed to burner unit on front of lamp. Shiny steel reflecting dish on front of lamp which is held in place by a small wingnut over central shaft. On right side of reflector is a spark wheel and flint mechanism to ignite flame. On outside of reflector is a knurled knob to adjust and or replace flint. Gas port in burner has white porcelain insert in center of a knurl, steel shaft. Small hole in center of white insert.

Material:

Brass
Cotton

Leather
Metal
Steel

Dimensions:

H-4 W-7 D-11 inches

Provenance:

Belonged to Richard I. Boulton of Manchester, NH. (1888-1971)

Credit Line:

Gift of Louis E. Lavellee

People:

Boulton, Richard I. (1888-1971)

Subjects:

Mining, Mining equipment, Miners' equipment & supplies, Lamps, Caps