kerosene lamp (artifact #20)

[From the Franklin collection, discussion is by Bill F.]  The lamp was found in a goat shed early in 1942, wrapped in rotting newspaper, which is how it escaped a delinquent-tax auction.  It dates from the turn of the century to possibly much earlier.

The small disc, just below the chimney, is a knob to adjust wick height (flame size) by way of a toothed shaft.  Normally the wick reaches into the manifold cavity, but I have raised it to peek above the flame slot so you can see it.  The wick is one inch wide by 3/32" thick cotton webbing.  Fuel is kerosene, also called coal oil, to soak the wick.  Mixing air is drawn in through perforations in the flat bottom surface of the manifold.

A lamp this size (15.5" tall, excluding the chimney) emits about as much illumination as four candles.  One lights the lamp by lifting the chimney and introducing a burning straw or match into the flame slot.  The wick is turned down to reduce the flame for increased economy.  We have seen the practice, in movies, of extinguishing the flame by turning it all the way down.  This is a no-no and considered risky.  The correct method is to cup a hand behind the chimney top and blow a puff of breath.

Table covering is the modern equivalent of oil cloth.  Oil cloth is fabric-backed with a durable, easily-cleaned surface.  In days of yore, it was much used as a utility table cloth and furniture cover and was as common as linoleum floor covering.