Where can I find a refill for an antique gas bike light?the solid grey stuff that water drips on to create gas

I have a friend who has an antique gas bicyle lamp it's lovely, we would love to see it work but cant't remember the name of the solid fuel used in it. there is a little water holder above the flame window which allows water to drip down on to the solid fuel to create a gas which is then lit creating a light for our biking ancestors.

What you have is called a carbide light and the substance is called calcium carbide. The water in the top bowl slowly drips into the bottom bowl containing the calcium carbide and it make acetylene gas which burns very bright in the lantern. I found one place online that carries it but it is expensive. http://www.karstsports.com/mingradcalca.... perhaps you can do your own web search using the keywords "calcium carbide" and find a better price?

you may find it at an agricultural merchant. It used to be used in bird scarers before they started using gas cyclinders. Strangley, I once found it in Halfords ( in Canterbury) but that was along time ago, now you`d just get a blank look from the spotty youth with the Degree in Media studies !

Some climbing shops that supply pot holing and camping supplies may be able to help you,Good Luck.
Some potholers in the UK still use carbide lamps and I believe some lamps are still manufactured.

It's calcium carbide. It makes acetylene when wet.

you need a hardware shop like was around in the 1920's, sadly they have all closed down now.