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.