Brass Miners Lamps By

E. Thomas & Williams LTD

Since 1860

Perfect for presentations

What A wonderful gift

Ideal reward for the

Mining industry

Welcome to Austco Trading suppliers of E. Thomas & Williams Brass mining lamps

Manufactured by E. Thomas & Williams LTD. in Aberdare, South Wales since 1860, our brass Miner's Safety Lamps offer a unique, fully operative piece of history. These Welsh Miners’ Lamps were ingeniously designed over 180 years ago to alert coal miners to danger. Since that time, they have been made with meticulous care for use in deep pit mines and oil riggers. Now they are yours to cherish and collect, or give as a beautiful and authentic piece of mining history.

A perfect business or personal gift our Welsh Cambrian Miners' Lamps will be treasured for years to come. Their combination of beauty, practicality, and heirloom quality puts them in a class of their own. Because the lamps are solid materials and not plated you can also have them personally engraved with the recipient's name, a special event or date, and even your company logo.

Our lamps are complete with a presentation tube and Certificate of Authenticity

Miners safety lamps were traditionally used to provide illumination in coal mines and were designed with an enclosed flame to operate in areas which may contain coal dust or gases. They also became a good way of measuring methane in the mine atmosphere.

Today they are often used as marine lanterns or as wall mounted oil lamps in the home. Also referred to as Davy lamps, they are beautifully made and are very wind resistant. These mining lamps are not intended as a safety lamp in real mining situations, but are fully functional for personal use.

History of E.Thomas & Williams LTD

The company was founded in 1860 by Evan Thomas, and was originally based at premises in Cardiff Street, Aberdare. In 1877 it moved to new premises at Graig Street just off Monk Street, Aberdare. Mr. Lewis N. Williams who was an authority on the theory and construction of safety lamps joined Mr. Evan Thomas in the business. In 1907 the business became a limited company operating under the name of E.Thomas & Williams Ltd. During the 1880s and 1890s the company exhibited lamps at various important industrial exhibitions, winning many prestigious awards including the gold medal at the London Mining Exhibition. The expansion of the coal industry was creating an active home market for their goods and exports were also on the increase with goods being exported to countries such as Australia, India, South Africa, Canada, America and Russia.

The coming of the First World War saw the company making shell casings for the Army, with the workforce reaching 70. The years between the wars were not so successful however and the depression led to a decline in business and a cut in the workforce. It was the Second World War, which brought about an upturn in their business, with the company winning contracts from the Ministry of Supply for the manufacture of steel parts and a small battery operated "Lightbuoy" designed to locate survivors from torpedoed ships. Following the war the company continued to prosper until the decline of the coal industry in the UK forced management to look for alternatives for its workforce. It was the company's practice of manufacturing Cambrian Miners' Lamps for presentation to political, military and sporting dignitaries that was to provide a solution to their problem.

Very soon the company's product was to find its way into shops all around the world. This departure into the gift market did not however signal an end to the production of safety lamps. The Cambrian Safety Lamp is still seen as an essential tool for detecting dangerous gas build ups and is used in collieries, ships holds and sewers today.

The company continues to operate from a factory in Robertstown, Wales, close to their original Aberdare premises which were destroyed by fire in 1978. With a staff of around 12 they continue to produce approx. 1500 fine crafted lamps per month for sale around the world and are the only approved manufacturer of safety lamps in Wales.