Bicycle Carbide Lamps STILL in manufacture!!!

[Sgt. Howard]

for real! there's a firm in India STILL making them! here's the link- Welcome to J K Dey & Sons - do a paste and copy to use. They don't give prices or ordering information, not sure what's up with that. I've sent off an inquirey not yet gotten a reply.
It is nickle plated brass, rather plain (bauhaus) as opposed to classic Victorian/Edwardian froo-froo, but looks like a sturdy operation. For those of us doing retro/steampunk/BTR, THIS might be the iceing on the cake! With a little puch. they MIGHT be convinced to offer this with an off-spout and create a tail-lamp without generator so you can light both ends with a surgical tube connector just like in days gone by. These things are supposed to be BRIGHT, and once you find a source of calcium carbide they are rather cheap to operate. Thought you might like to know...
the Old Sgt.

 

[Sgt. Howard]

PICS: Bicycle Carbide Lamps STILL in manufacture!!!

not sure if this will work, but we will see...

 

[BarelyAWake]

Nice! Thanks for the tip, that's jus' the thing for some of the ol' school rides

Hope it works out & the ordering info & pricing *crosses fingers*

 

[Fulltimer]

Bicycle and Bike Lamps and Lanterns - The Lampworks

http://www.websolutionswa.com/lamps/cbicycle.htm

Here are some for sale:
http://www.thefind.com/hardware/info-carbide-lamp

 

[Sgt. Howard]

Calcium carbide source

here is a link for the aforementioned stuff- Miners Grade Calcium Carbide - it comes in 2 pound tins, minimum recommended purchase is ten pounds as shipping is $55 from two to ten pounds. $85 for ten pounds delivered, and one pound will last quite a while. I'm thinking if you have a club of retro/steampunk/BTR, this would make perfect sense. Otherwise... well, if you own several batteries of BANGSITE cannons, you would be well-stocked...
the Old Sgt.

 

[Sgt. Howard]

Just got word back- the wretched things are no longer in production!!! I am currently trying to negotiate a limited run production, but I'm not sure that will fly... I guess it was too good to be true and all that.
Even so, the design of the thing being what it is... the thought comes to mind to produce it in PVC as an electric operation that LOOKS like a gas rig, painted to look like brass, copper or nickle... whatcha think?
the Old Sgt.

 

[Freeatlast]

Re: Calcium carbide source

here is a link for the aforementioned stuff- ]Miners Grade Calcium Carbide[/url] - it comes in 2 pound tins, minimum recommended purchase is ten pounds as shipping is $55 from two to ten pounds. $85 for ten pounds delivered,


I got curious- I used to play with this stuff when I was a kid so I looked on ebay and found quite a bit- fairly good on price - here is an example.

Calcium Carbide, 2lbs., New can - eBay (item 320570343951 end time Nov-30-10 16:46:20 PST)