Brass carbide miners’ lamps are popular with cavers. Modern reproductions are available, but many people like to use genuine vintage models. If the lamps are not in working condition, they are still a beautiful display. Old brass is polished very well. Some retired miners collect them.

To clean the lamp, you will need the following:

* Glass stove cleaner

* Brasso

* Chrome cleaner

* Hair dryer

* Old toothbrush

* Old t-shirts

When I start cleaning an old brass lamp, I remove the flint from the hammer. found in the reflector. Just unscrew the cap and twist the lamp and the flint and spring will fall into your hand. Then I empty the fuel tank and rinse it with water.

If you want your Vintage Brass Miners lamp to retain an aged patina after it is clean, try using a glass cooktop cleaner and an old toothbrush. First scrub the lamp with the glass cleaner, use the toothbrush to clean the cracks, then rinse with water.

After rinsing off all of the cleaner, dry the lamp parts with a hair dryer on low setting. It takes me about 45 minutes to clean the brass part of the lantern.

If you want your brass to shine like new, use Brasso. It works very well! Brasso is abrasive too, so be careful how much you rub.

When you are done with the brass, it will be a shiny copper brown. Some people like to use Limeaway to speed up work, but not me. It will save you a bit of scrubbing, but if you leave the lamp in the solution too long, the brass will turn pink.

To clean the reflector, I use a chrome cleaner (available at auto parts stores) and scrub clean with an old t-shirt.

When you’re done, buff the entire lap with a clean t-shirt material and then reassemble it. You will be quite satisfied with the results!