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The object in the picture is an Carbide Bicycle Lamp
What is it?
It is an old lamp that was used on bicycles in the early 1900s, before electric bicycle lights became common.
How did it work?
The lower part held calcium carbide.
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The top container held water.
When water dripped onto the carbide, it created a chemical reaction that produced acetylene gas.
The gas was then lit, producing a bright flame that illuminated the road ahead.
Why might it be in a garden?
These lamps were widely used between 1900 and 1930, so it may have been lost or discarded many years ago and later buried in the soil.
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