I don't think we had any around here, and I'm 69. I DO remember one old independent mech in town in a little bitty garage, had a carbide acetylene generator for his cutting torch. Now, THAT thing was impressive!!!
For those unaware, these are how miner's lamps and early automotive lighting worked. An upper water tank drips water onto carbide, which makes acetylene gas
Knew a guy who had an acetylene generator in his body shop. One night, after several beers, we launched several large balloons filled with the gas with a lighted fuse attached... the balloons would ignite at about 500'.
The problem was his shop was in the flight path for the local airport... oops! After a stern warning form the local cops, FBI and FAA he sold the generator.
