How to Light a Carbide Lamp by Lady Jillian Spagthorpe
Rushmore Lamp Set.
The Rushmore Lamp Co. claim to have introduced the first of the searchlight lamp patterns with lens mirror – an event which happened some four or five years ago. It was not, however, until the present time that the company decided to place on the market a British made motor cycle head light, following as nearly as possible the successful lines of the Rushmore car lamp.
The lamp differs from the well-known car model in the following respects. Firstly, it is provided with a hood which is attached to the front of the lamp by means of screws, so that it may be easily detached, and a special fixing is supplied. A genuine Mangin lens is fitted, while special notice must be taken of the bracket clips. The face of the clip is circular, with small semi-circular projections cast on it, while depressions to correspond are cast in the boss of the lamp itself. Both projections and hollows are very small, so that a great number of various positions may be utilised. By undoing the wing nuts the lamp may be placed at any angle, and when the wing nuts are screwed up it will stay in the required position, the projections and hollows preventing any further movement.
The front door of the lamp, carrying the glass in sections in the well-known Rushmore style, is provided with a ventilator which gives out no back light, while the position of the burner is adjustable so that the light may be focussed to suit the wish of the rider.
One of the chief features of the Rushmore lamp is that it is entirely put together by means of screws, thus allowing it to be taken to pieces with the utmost facility.
The generator is simply and strongly constructed, and is much on the lines of their well-known car generator.
The water compartment A has a well formation, in the bottom of which lies the valve D, which can be easily removed for cleaning purposes, by detaching the nut B which holds it to its seating C.
The pace of the water-feed is controlled by turning the valve rod. The face of the valve has a small taper slot across it, at the broad end of which a hole is drilled into the centre, which is bored out to the bottom A corresponding hole is drilled in the seat C, so that by turning the valve first the small end of the groove comes opposite the hole in C, allowing a small amount of water to leak through, while a further turn causes the holes to be brought gradually in line, thus allowing a steady stream of water to pass. This, of course, is seldom necessary, unless for lighting up in a hurry.
Round the well lies an annular chamber forming a gas reservoir, the gas entering through holes in the screw plug F. From this reservoir the gas is led through a pipe G in the usual manner.
The carbide is carried in the receptacle H, which is perforated round the lower edge and fitted with a heavy gauge wire gauze bottom. The whole is carried and allowed to swing on the two pins K. fixed to the outer shell L.
The object of this is that the used carbide is lifted through the holes and gauze and drops into the outer shell. Thus when only part of a charge is used the waste may be emptied away and the lamp is at once ready for use again. The top and bottom halves are held together by the internally screwed ring M, a rubber washer N making a gastight joint.
Three different styles of carrying the lamp are provided for. Firstly, with the lamp in front and the generator close behind; secondly, with a slot behind so that the lamp may be fixed on to the usual type of lamp bracket; thirdly, there is a special carrier on the generator so that the generator may be fitted to a bracket attached to any convenient part of the machine.
1911 Olympia Show - The Motor Cycle October 26th, 1911. Page 1126
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