“The fun is in the hunt. The hunt for mine lamp parts can be almost as hard as finding a lamp itself.”
Colin Gatland
Colin Gatland loves an expedition.
As a professional photographer, caver and rock climber, Gatland has taken pictures of various caves he has toured in the U.S. and Mexico.
His cave photography has been held in such high regard that about nine years ago, two of his cave images were included in an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
But his love of caving and photography almost takes a backseat to his passion for collecting antique lamps. Over the years, Gatland has collected more than 100 lights — including carbide, oil wicks and candlesticks — some dating back to the 1800s.
Gatland said he’s still hunting for more lamps.
“The fun is in the hunt,” said Gatland, 49, who started his business, C. Gatland Photography, in 1989 as a commercial art and corporate photographer.
“The hunt for mine lamp parts can be almost as hard as finding a lamp itself,” he said
On March 6, Gatland will share tales of his mining lamp collection during a presentation at the Preble County Historical Center. The free speech begins at 6:30 p.m.
His collection is not necessarily about lamps, but the stories behind them; the successes and hardships they endured to help miners get coal, gold and diamonds.
His collection shows also the evolution of the lamps.
Gatland has his photography business at his Jefferson Twp. farm where he lives with his wife, Lori. They have four dogs and four donkeys, including one from Death Valley and three from the Las Vegas area that he said “are likely descended from the ones the miners left behind.”
The favorite lamp in his collection is a Copper Queen. This lamp is the only one named after an actual operating mine, the Copper Queen mine in Bisbee, Ariz., that has been a tourist attraction since 1976.
Although his passion for collecting mine lights exceeds his love of caving and photography, they all curve into a complete life.
“I don’t think a lot of people appreciate what folks went through and still go through with miners,” Gatland said. “When you turn on that light switch you don’t realize what the miners went through to get to that point.”
For more information on Preble County Antique Study Group, call (937) 787-4256 or e-mail preble cohistsoc@brecnet.com.
Contact this reporter at sbelcher001@woh.rr.com.
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