THE MINER AND HIS LAMP

Personal tag with number. © Nederlands Mijnmuseum

Every miner had his own lamp. From 1950-1955 it was standard that this was an attachable helmet lamp. The lamp was provided with their personal number, which was also on their personal tag.

If you want to know more about the personal number, read more here (Dutch).

In addition to the attachable helmet lamps, petrol lamps were also available for certain miners, for instance for miners who used the drill, employees of the ventilation service and supervisory staff (supervisors, department supervisors, master supervisors and chief supervisors). From the beginning of the 20th century up until the 1920s petrol lamps were used exclusively as a light supply. After the 1920’s, these were used purely as an instrument for measuring mine gas. The attachable helmet lamps provided the lighting.