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March Veteran and Vintage Cycle Club

Lucas Model 317 Cycle Carbide Lamp.

Lucas 317 carbide lamp Picture

Carbide lamps produced a better light but were more difficult to control as the acetelene gas output was generated by dripping water onto calcium carbide rocks.

This early one is a Lucas model 317 and would date from around 1898. It is around 9 inches high and can be identified by the partial cover on the lens and the clamp used to hold the carbide reservoir in place. Later ones were usually just screw on.

The rear lamp would be a basic burner fed by a pipe from the front lamp. Understandably fires were not uncommon!