A Glimpse Into One of Mining’s Most Iconic Tools

Before electric lamps, before oil lanterns, even before safe gas lamps, miners relied on something astonishingly simple yet brilliantly functional: a forged iron candle holder known as the Sticking Tommy. And if you’ve ever seen one up close, its unusual shape is unforgettable. With its sharp spike, spiral body, and curled hook, this tool wasn’t just practical — it was a masterpiece of hand-forged ingenuity.

Today, we’re diving deep into the history, purpose, and clever design behind this iconic piece of mining heritage.

What Exactly Is a Sticking Tommy?

At first glance, it might look like an antique dagger or a decorative wrought-iron craft. But the Sticking Tommy was a miner’s closest companion in the darkest, dampest, and most dangerous places underground. It functioned as a candle holder, designed to bring light into deep mine shafts long before modern illumination existed.

For miners of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, this wasn’t just a tool — it was survival.

Why This Shape Proves It’s a Genuine Sticking Tommy

If you look closely at the object, every part of it matches the classic design used in the 1800s. Let’s break down the features that make this identification so certain.

The Long, Spear-Like Spike

This sharp, tapered spike is the signature of a Sticking Tommy. Miners used it to stab the tool directly into rock walls, wooden beams, cracks, or support structures. Once embedded, the candle stayed right where the miner needed it: at eye level, stable, and out of the way.

It wasn’t pretty — but it worked in conditions where nothing else did.

The Spiral Coil Body for Candle Support

That tightly wound coil wasn’t just decorative. It acted as a secure holder for the candle, gripping it so it wouldn’t fall out, even when the tunnel vibrated or the worker moved quickly. The spiraling shape added tension, so the candle stayed upright no matter the angle.

Think of it as the 19th-century equivalent of a flexible clamp.

The Hook and Decorative Curled Loop

Now this is where the craftsmanship really shines. The curled loop and hook served multiple roles:

• They allowed miners to hang the candle holder on wooden beams or ropes.
• They offered a quick way to attach the tool to belts or gear bags.
• They balanced the tool when placed on flat surfaces.

And that elegant swirl? That wasn’t just flair. It was a calling card of blacksmiths who forged tools for mining communities during the 1800s — strong, practical, and artistic, all in one.

Video : I found my first Sticking Tommy! Pre-1908 Gold

How Miners Actually Used the Sticking Tommy

You can picture it: dark tunnels, dripping water, and rough stone everywhere. Light was scarce, precious, and always at risk of blowing out. A simple candle, held by an iron spike, became the miner’s portable beacon.

Here’s what it allowed workers to do:

• Embed a candle in rock walls to illuminate their workspace
• Hang candles from beams in areas with uneven ground
• Carry their light effortlessly while climbing or crawling
• Move the holder quickly to follow their progress deeper into the tunnel

In a world before gas lamps became widely affordable, this tool was absolutely essential.

The Era of the Sticking Tommy

This piece wasn’t just part of mining history — it spanned entire generations of workers. Its use extended across:

• The late 1700s, when mining expanded rapidly
• The entire 1800s, the golden age of industrial mining
• The early 1900s, especially in regions slow to adopt gas or electric lamps

Some records show these candle holders still being used in remote areas up through the 1910s and 1920s.

Imagine relying on a single candle flame to guide you through a maze of rock, dust, and danger. It’s no wonder the Sticking Tommy is now viewed as a symbol of the grit and resilience of early miners.

Why the Sticking Tommy Still Fascinates Collectors and Historians

Even though its era has passed, this tool holds incredible historical value. People admire it for many reasons:

• Its hand-forged craftsmanship
• Its clever multitool design
• Its connection to early mining culture
• Its role in industrial history
• Its rugged, unmistakable silhouette

Collectors often describe it as a small relic that tells a big story.

A Symbol of Light in the Deepest Darkness

The Sticking Tommy is more than just metal and candle wax. It represents the determination of workers who went underground every day with nothing but a candle between them and total darkness.

From the spear-like spike to the swirling hook, every line and curve served a purpose. And while it may look like a strange object today, it once meant the difference between visibility and blindness — between danger and a fighting chance.

Conclusion

The Sticking Tommy stands as one of the most fascinating tools from the early mining world. With its sharp spike, spiral candle holder, and curled hook, every detail reveals the creative and practical thinking of miners who needed reliable light in treacherous conditions. For more than a century, this humble tool illuminated tunnels, guided workers, and supported one of the toughest jobs in history. Today, it serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, craftsmanship, and the ingenuity that helped shape the modern industrial era.

Video : Forging Project: Sticking Tommy