Who owns an oil lamp?

Ken45101 · Dec 22, 2012

We have a couple that we use for emergency lighting. I try to keep a couple of LED flashlights in standard places that I can find in the dark to get things started.

Speaking of LED flashlights, if you are not aware, you can remove the front reflector housing on the standard flashlights (like a Maglite) and the bare bulb will provide good area lighting. You can set the flashlight vertically on it's back end, it's like and electronic candle

The 1 watt LED flashlights with a pair of D-cells is supposed to last 100 hours. That's a pretty good setup IMO for emergency or camping use.

cccamrd · Dec 22, 2012

In light of Sandy.... in downstate New York...have spent time upgrading our prep.
Now have 4-5 assorted oil lamps, with same number of lamp oil... as well as propane lights and
generator etc.
They (lights) add charm to our country home...

Tororider · Dec 22, 2012

I have to say I never thought there would be this much interest in this thread and as always I have learned something new. I had never heard of Aladdin lamps. Something else to look into.

Marveltone · Dec 22, 2012

Aladdin lamps are kerosene mantle lamps. Very bright, but also very expensive and delicate, as well as a bit finicky. If you want to slpit the difference between the rather dim flat wick lamps and the extreme delicacy of a fragile mantle, I suggest you research the Kosmos lamp. They're made in France out of brass. Very high quality, and yes, almost as expensive as an Aladdin. The big difference is, they're what's called a center draft wick lamp. The wick is rolled like a tube, and the gallery carefully mixes air between the outside and inside of the wick to give off a very bright light. Not as bright as the Aladdin, mind you, but much brighter than the standard flat wick lamps. My numbers are likely off, but for the sake of argument, if you compare a flat wick lamp to a 15 watt bulb and an Aladdin to a 60, the Kosmos might be around 40... Just a guess. The upside is they need no expensive mantle which can tend to break if you look at it cross-eyed, so they're much more durable for daily use, and they're much easier to learn to operate.

I don't own any Kosmos lamps as of yet, but I've read much on them and would love to get one or two. Just thought I'd throw another option out there.

Joe

Don87 · Dec 22, 2012

We have a couple of oil lamps also. They always have oil and are ready to go just in case.

Baby Grand · Dec 23, 2012

joemd11 said:
I have 5 or 6 of the old railroad lanterns. We use them occasionally during summer evenings when we are out on the deck. I guess we could use them during a power outage, but haven't had to yet - knock on wood.

We use them on the deck on summer evenings, too.
They produce a nice, warm glow without the harsh quality of some other types of lights.

TBarD · Dec 23, 2012

We have several Aladdin lamps. Got them after an extended power outage, but now use them almost daily in the winter just because they are a very nice as an accent lamp - adjustable brightness, can be put anywhere, warm, bright and cheery, beautiful construction. They are delicate and tricky to operate. The chimneys are easily broken, you have to learn how to handle them to avoid breakage. The key things one has to learn to keep them from smoking are 1) let it warm up for 10-20 min before turning it up, 2) do not overfill, and fill with only warm fuel or it will expand when it warms up and smoke. A 5 gal can of kerosene can last a winter. Very nice to have this ready to go when the power goes off.

/pine · Dec 23, 2012

We still have several oil lamps but don't ever light them any more...we keep a supply of Cyalume light sticks for emergency lighting during power failures...

Larry Caldwell · Dec 23, 2012

Marveltone said:
Aladdin lamps are kerosene mantle lamps. Very bright, but also very expensive and delicate, as well as a bit finicky. If you want to slpit the difference between the rather dim flat wick lamps and the extreme delicacy of a fragile mantle, I suggest you research the Kosmos lamp. They're made in France out of brass. Very high quality, and yes, almost as expensive as an Aladdin. The big difference is, they're what's called a center draft wick lamp. The wick is rolled like a tube, and the gallery carefully mixes air between the outside and inside of the wick to give off a very bright light. Not as bright as the Aladdin, mind you, but much brighter than the standard flat wick lamps. My numbers are likely off, but for the sake of argument, if you compare a flat wick lamp to a 15 watt bulb and an Aladdin to a 60, the Kosmos might be around 40... Just a guess. The upside is they need no expensive mantle which can tend to break if you look at it cross-eyed, so they're much more durable for daily use, and they're much easier to learn to operate.

I don't own any Kosmos lamps as of yet, but I've read much on them and would love to get one or two. Just thought I'd throw another option out there.

Joe

Once upon a time there were several manufacturers of tubular wick oil lamps. They burn much brighter than the flat wicks. They use a flame spreader above the center draft, and if you find an antique, chances are the flame spreader will be missing. You can make a new one with solder and copper. Kerosene also leaves a wax residue when it evaporates, and often the tubular wicks will become stuck. You can take the lamp apart and put the burner in boiling water to soften the wax and free it up. I had to do that to an antique Aladdin once.

You can pick up a lot of oil lamp info from the International Guild of Lamp Researchers, http://www.lampguild.org/. Unfortunately, their web site seems to be down. I hope that's a temporary thing, because it's a great site with a lot of info, links to parts suppliers and such.

I inherited some nice lamps from my inlaws. One is an old wall hung barber shop light with a concave reflector that shoots a beam of light bright enough to read (or shave!) by. I have a couple tubular wick lamps, two Aladdins, two dual wick British productions, and a big Dietz kerosene lantern with a 1.25" wick that I inherited from my grandfather. During power outages I hang the lantern by the front door to act as a portable porch light.