Gas Cap Demonstrator, 1890-1950 (Ref:L.T43.1990.14.0)
Gas Cap Demonstrator, 1890-1950 (Ref:L.T43.1990.14.0)
The 'Bedward' was a gas cap demonstrator produced by the safety lamp manufacturer J.H.Naylor Ltd. in Wigan in the early part of the 20th century.
The Bedward was used to show miners the various changes that could be observed in the appearance of a flame if it was placed in a gas filled atmosphere. If, for example, the gas cap above the flame was blue, then a miner would know that the dangerous gas firedamp was in the atmosphere.
It was essential that all mine deputies were able to use their safety lamps to test for firedamp and the many other dangerous gases that were present in mines. The gas cap demonstrator made it possible to do this by recreating the dangerous atmospheres found in the mine in the safety of the classroom.
