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.

Read more…

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.

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”.

Read more…