If you’re looking to buy an oil lamp then know that the largest marketplace is by far and away the internet.

Many regular stores also offer mail order services via the internet and there are several dedicated internet only websites.

Regardless of where you decide to purchase your oil lamp from make sure you take a bit of time to research the product, the site and / or the company before committing to any purchase.

Try to find independent testimonials and third party reviews (forums can be useful for this) to find out what other peoples experiences have been.

Always remember that word of mouth still remains one of the very best recommendations available.

Also, look at the payment methods they offer and make sure you’re comfortable with them.

As you would expect, internet auction sites offer the biggest range of all and operate in a variety of ways.

Some auction sites have a proposed finishing time for the listing but will continue accepting bids until a pre-set period of time passes without any further bids.

Under this system, there have been listings that have continued for 24 hours or more beyond the original scheduled finishing time so you may have to wait longer than expected to find out if you are the successful bidder.

The biggest of all internet auction sites is, of course, eBay.

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Where can I buy an oil lamp?

So you have decided to buy an oil (kerosene) lamp but where do you start?

The first consideration is what type of lamp you wish to purchase.

To begin with, you may wish to refer to my previous article:  Why do people buy oil lamps?

If you decide on a practical oil lamp, what should you look for?

The answer is there are several levels or types of practicality available.

Let’s take a look at these areas now.

Flat wick kerosene lamps

There are basic no frills flat wick lamps such as barn lamps (also known as hurricane lamps) and glass  lamps  for the home available from most camping or disposal stores and also from selected variety stores.

Flat wick lamps offer low starting prices and ease of use but don’t produce a high level of illumination.

They are also suitable for burning citronella as an outdoor insect repellent.

Centre draught kerosene lamps

The next level of practicality is to move to a centre draught oil lamp which will offer greater illumination, durability and aesthetic appeal but as these are no longer manufactured, the only option is to purchase one second hand.

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Why do people buy oil lamps?

There are many reasons why people decide to buy their first oil / kerosene lamp.

Practicality

For some people it is purely practical. They need a non-electric light source that is cost effective, easy to use and gives good illumination.

Period home decorators

Other people come to oil lamps, particularly antique oil lamps, through a desire to decorate their period home in an authentic manner. For these people, the aesthetic appeal is the principal focus.

Investment

Yet other people purchase antique oil lamps as an investment. Age, authenticity, condition, rarity, working order and provenance are all considerations in this category and contribute toward determining the investment value of a lamp.

Memories

There are also a group of people who have fond childhood memories of staying with relatives during school holidays, particularly in rural areas, where the only lighting they had was from kerosene lamps.

Which group do you belong to?

No matter what the reason is for buying your first kerosene lamp, it is highly likely that it won’t be your last purchase.

Most often, when the wick on an antique oil lamp won’t move freely, it is because it has been dried out for a long period of time and the fibres of the wick have adhered to the draught tube. If the wick on your oil lamp won’t move freely using the wick raiser, do not attempt to force it. If you do force it, there is a strong likelihood that you will damage the wick raising mechanism and repairing it may not be possible.

In the majority of instances, all that is needed to free up the wick is to fill the lamp with enough oil to cover the bottom of the wick and then let it stand for a while so that the wick can draw the oil up. Often it only takes an hour or two to loosen the wick but in some instances it can take a day or so. Once the fibres of the wick have been adequately soaked, the strength of the bond between the wick and the wick tube should be reduced.

The next step depends on the type of burner on your oil lamp and here are some examples.

With earlier style oil lamps such as this one, remove the flame spreader and the burner to expose the wick around the draught tube.

Fully assembled before you start

Burner and flame spreader removed from font

Grip wick on draught tube and twist gently back and forth

Grip the wick with your hand and gently turn it backwards and forwards around the wick tube. If it still won’t move, leave it to soak awhile longer. Once the wick moves freely on the tube you can then test to see if the wick raising mechanism is working properly.

If you decide to remove the wick completely, take particular note of how the wick is secured around the draught tube so that you can re-assemble it correctly.

For later style oil lamps where the wick and the wick raiser is incorporated into the burner, the procedure is a little different.

Fully assembled before you start

Wick is integrated into the burner assembly

Again, remove the flame spreader first. Now unscrew the burner a little then work it backwards and forwards (a little more each time) to free up the wick. Once the wick is free, unscrew the burner and remove it completely from the oil lamp.

For any oil lamp, once the wick has been removed from the draught tube, it often pays to give the tube a light sanding with a fine grade wet & dry or steel wool to remove any build up and will assist in keeping the wick raiser working smoothly.

Re-assemble the oil lamp and the wick raiser should be able to raise and lower the wick smoothly. If it still isn’t free after this time, then generally there is a problem with the wick raising mechanism itself…..but that’s a whole other story.

This book presents 228 numbered color photographs from seven chapters of Volume 2 including kerosene and suspension lamps, lanterns, smoke shades, bells, gas lighting devices, and electric lighting.

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Review
This is the third volume in a three-volume series by author Catherine Thuro, one of Canada’s leading authorities on early lighting. Her books are highly acclaimed and are considered required reading by collectors.

Oil lamps are showcased in hundreds of black and white and color photographs throughout these pages, with greater emphasis on diversity, trimmings, and the probable placement in the home. Lighting fixtures such as hall, hanging, or bracket lamps reveal that Vi (more…)

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

Many people don’t think twice about the lamps and lights in their home. When you’re trying to spruce up your decor though, or creating a brand new decorating theme, one of the best places to start is with lamps… because they can be both beautiful and functional at the same time.

Here are several popular types of lamps to consider when decorating a room in your home:

Oil Lamps – Oil lamps can still be bought in many places today. Some are replicas, meaning they don’t actual burn oil to create light, they simply look like the oil lamps of old. Others actually do have a wick and can burn oil. Most people use the actual oil burning lamps for decoration only, and you can even buy colored oil to fill the lamps for an additional decorative touch. 

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Numerous references from olden ages have illuminated the fact that lamps have been used to spread light, even before electricity was invented, and lighting was given a new meaning. The use of lamps can be broadly classified into two eras: The pre-electrical era and the post electrical era.

The Pre-electrical Era

The invention and first usage of lamp can be dated back to 70,000 BC. At that time, there was no metal or bronze to make lamps instead the then civilization used hollow rocks and shells. These hollow rocks were filled with moss and other natural substances and then soaked in animal fat. Animal fat acted as oil and this is how the first lamps were ignited.

With the advent of pottery, and the bronze and copper age, humans started to make lamps that imitated other natural shapes. Wicks came into existence much later and were used for controlling the flame or the rate of burning. In the 7th century BC, Greeks started using terra cotta lamps, which replaced the handheld torches. The word “lamp” has been derived from the Greek word “lampas”, which means “torch”.

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Review
This is the first volume in a three-volume series by author Catherine Thuro, one of Canada’s leading authorities on early lighting. Her books are highly acclaimed and are considered required reading by collectors.

Hundreds of detailed photographs and illustrations are showcased in this beautiful guide ot kerosene oil lamps. Inspired by the process and the people involved in the manufacturing of these marvelous lighting devices, Catherine Thuro has documented extensive h (more…)