The lantern in the image is an antique carbide (acetylene) mine lamp, which served as a primary light source for workers in underground tunnels during the 19th and 20th centuries. Operating principle: The lamp functions by dripping water onto calcium carbide, a process that generates flammable acetylene gas which burns with a small flame. The history of the carbide (acetylene) lamp marks one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in mine lighting and industrial safety, serving as a critical transitional stage between candles and oil lamps and modern electric lighting.