DAVY, HUMPHRY. - INVENTION OF THE "DAVY-LAMP"

On the fire-damp of coal mines, and on methods of lighting the mines so as to prevent its explosion. Read November 9, 1815. (And) An account of an invention for giving light in explosive mixtures of fire-damp in coal mines, by consuming the fire-damp. Read January 11, 1816. (2 papers).

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1816). 4to. 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1816 - Part I. Pp. 1-22 a. pp. 23-24 and 1 large folded engraved plate. showing details of the construction of the lamp. Clean and fine, wide-margined..

First description and the first announcement of the invention of the Mine Safety Lamp, the so-called "Davy-Lamp" together with his further remarks on the functioning of this lamp. The papers are miliestones of applied chemistry.
"In 1815 he (Davy) invented the Davy lamp, in which an open flame is surrounded by a cylinder of metallic gauze. Oxygen can get through the gauze and feed the flame. The heat of the flame, however, is dissipated by the metal and explosive gases outside the lamp and not ignited. For the first time, miners were reasonably safe from explosion. In 1818 Davy was made a Baronet for his service to industry." (Asimow).
Dibner: Heralds of Science 181. - Partington IV: p. 36 a. 62-70.

Order-nr.: 42175