I see a TCR carbide collation forming. Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 24, 2012, at 10:46 PM, Chris Vreeland <cvreel...@austin.rr.com> wrote: > Thanks for the great write-up, Carl. > > I still have my repair kit and a Justrite in my main caving gear tub, as I > just can't let go entirely. When i first started caving in the early 90's, > ceiling burners were indeed the thing, but I became enamored of the old brass > cap lamps, and purchased a bunch for cheap on ebay. I used a 50's-era Guy's > Dropper lamp as my main light off & on for quite a few years, until I > discovered a crack in the flange, due to it catching fire in a big whoosh > while sitting in a pile of dry guano in the entrance to Punkin cave. Luckily, > I managed to snuff it before the whole county went up in flames. > > I put it away for the last time after that trip, which must have been 2003 or > 2004, and I miss it. I've got a Sten now, after a long string of cheap-ass > plastic garbage (I'm looking at you, Petzl) and am quite happy with it, but > it's just not quite the same. The Stens spread better than the early LED > lamps, so you can see your feet now, and they're pretty white, and holy crap > they're bright on high, but maybe it's just primeval instinct from our > original cave-dwelling days that makes light from flame just look right -- I > don't know. > > I've still got a quart of carbide in my tub too, and I'm sure I'll fire the > Justrite up around my campsite at the Cavers Reunion. > > Chris > > On Aug 24, 2012, at 11:37 AM, Carl Kunath wrote: > >> >> >> For most beginning cavers, the management of a carbide lamp was a mystery >> and a bit of a challenge. Nearly everyone carried small repair kits that >> usually included a tip, felt, gasket, flint, and tip reamer. Neophytes >> were tutored and it became a matter of pride and prestige to troubleshoot, >> recharge, or repair your lamp in the dark. In the early days of the Texas >> Old Timers Reunion, there were carbide lamp contests with blindfolded >> competitors. >> >
