Brass Joseph Lucas Carbide Bicycle Lamp

This is the Calcia King brass bicycle lamp which worked on carbide. The lamp has a lower chamber into which the carbide was placed. This chamber is screwed into the main part of the lamp, which aside from the water reservoir, contains a large lens with a reflective mirror behind it. The lens is set into a hinged brass frame that can be opened to light the gas. The gas is produced when a small tap at the top of the reservoir is opened, allowing water to drip onto the carbide thus creating acetylene gas which, when lit, gives off a brilliant white light. On the back of the lamp there is a bracket for attaching the lamp to the bicycle. On the side of the lamp there are green and red glass jewels which light up when the lamp is lit. The chimney is marked Calcia King 318E jos. Lucas Birmingham
The Joseph Lucas company in Birmingham was established in 1875. Around 1880 Joseph’s son, Harry, started managing the company. In that year they patented the King of the Road Bicycle Lamp, which made the Lucas name renowned. They became a public company in 1897. Joseph Lucas died in 1902