Many 18th-century lamps used oil to produce light. If whale oil was not available, the lamps could use olive oil. The oil was kept in a reservoir, usually metal, that had three or four burners with ...

Antique oil lamp identification can be a bit tricky, considering there are many reproduction antique lamps on the market. The thing is, a genuine antique oil lamp can sometimes be quite valuable, so ...

Many 18th-century lamps used oil to get light. If whale oil was not available, the lamps could use olive oil. The oil was kept in a reservoir, usually metal, that had three or four burners with wicks.

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 of this story. An open fire, candlelight, whale oil lamps, coal and petroleum derived kerosene, and coal or petroleum derived gas. All of these fuels ...

Many 18th-century lamps used oil to get light. If whale oil was not available, the lamps could use olive oil. The oil was kept in a reservoir, usually metal, that had three or four burners with wicks.

In 1850, most homes in the United States were lit by lamps that burned whale oil. As demand rose, supply dwindled--whales became shy and scarce--and prices for whale oil climbed. Then alternative ...

Few people stayed up at night in the years before 1800 because there were so few sources of light. An open fire, a candle or a rush dipped in oil could be lit. Then whale-oil lamps became popular.