"Learn" Your Way Around the Kitchen
Oil Lamps
You will find examples of 19th century oil lamps on display in the Carney farmhouse. Oil and kerosene lamps were used for interior lighting in this building until well into the 20th century, a time when electricity was finally made available to people living in Delaware's rural communities.
The History of Oil Lamps
Various types of oil lamps have been used to light the interiors of buildings for thousands of years.
Oil lamps from manmade materials have been discoved in Egypt, Greece and Rome and are considered probably the first mass produced objects in history! Early lamps were made from terracotta, bronze, stone and alabaster, in a shape of a dish that would hold oil and a place for a wick that would prolong burning and prevented the whole surface of the oil to catch fire. They were easier and safer to carry than torches, they were reusable and left less residues (to differ from candles). Olive oil was used as a fuel as well as sesame oil, fish oil, whale oil and beeswax.
In the 18th century, Swiss chemist, Aime Argand, invented and patented “Argand Lamp”. His lamp consisted of container for oil as all the other lamps but had cylindrical wick to give larger surface for a larger flame and glass tube chimney around the flame to direct the draft, make a stronger flame and make lamp safer for carrying. (1)
In the mid-1800s kerosene came into widespread use. Kerosene was an innovation of Abraham Gesner who began distilling coal in 1846 to produce a clear liquid that produced a bright flame when used to power a traditional oil lamp. He called his new fuel kerosene after the Greek word “keroselaion.” Within the decade, it was discovered that kerosene could be extracted from petroleum making the production as a fuel more viable and sustainable commercially.(2)
Kerosene lamps were used throughout the 19th century as gas lighting was namely reserved for the wealthy and electric lighting was just catching on. Even after the widespread availability of electricity in rural areas, most people retained their glass kerosene lamps for emergency uses. In some cases, kerosene lamps were converted to electric lamps and were used in parlors, retaining the charm and beauty of a bygone-era.(3)
[1).
History of Oil Lamps - Who Invented Oil Lamp? (historyoflamps.com)]
(2) The History of the Kerosene Lamp | Blog | ISU University Museums (iastate.edu)
(3) The History of the Kerosene Lamp | Blog | ISU University Museums (iastate.edu)