September 3, 20196 yr Author 10 hours ago, DHarris said: Power here in Purcell is very spotty unless you live on the far north side where power is supplied by OEC. We live on the north side of town. Those in the town proper have power distributed by the City of Purcell where even a stiff breeze seems to knock out the power. Same problem here. We are on OG&E and lose power most any time the wind blows hard. Folks across the road are on OEC and never lose power. I've done everything I can to get hooked up to OEC, but they say there's no way.
September 3, 20196 yr A friend collects Coleman style lanterns. I have found some at garage sales and thrift stores that I gave to him. The last one I gave him was a BernzOmatic propane like I had never seen before. The tank went in back instead of under the mantle. Looks like this one except his is blue.
September 3, 20196 yr I have one just like it a model TX-750 bought new in 1960, has been going strong since and accompanied us on many camping trips with the kids. The Aladdin lamp in the background is the standby main light lamp, from the last light house I was stationed on. It was given to me in Jan, 1968, the day I left, by the last civilian light house keeper employed by the U.S.C.G. Because the light house was being automated and no longer manned. It's a NU MODEL 13, the shade I added later and it's the lamp I use most in the kitchen (please ignore all the junk around it) when I light it that stuff is moved. I just noticed the picture on the TV in the background is a syfy movie that my wife is watching.
September 3, 20196 yr Originally kerosene/paraffin was the MAIN product of oil refining; cars were later designed to use the cheap waste product---gasoline. And lets not forget tallow candles/lamps!
September 4, 20196 yr Mr. Dragon and T.P. et al., The 'oil' refiners, in those days were stuck with a lot of 'gasoline' and did not know what to do with it. Soooo they resorted to the usual nineteenth solution of dumping it in the nearest stream. Laws were passed to prohibit such dumping. They are not enforcing said laws these days. SLAG.
September 4, 20196 yr They also used to roll lit wooden barrels of gasoline down hills for the fun of it. Kerosene was one of the solutions to the 19th century's major energy crisis---the lack of whale oil for lighting. My Mother grew up in rural Oklahoma, USA, and they used "coal oil lamps" as the only electricity they had in the 1930's was a 6 volt wind charger to run the radio off of...
September 4, 20196 yr Here is most of the collection, several flat wick lamps are mounted on the walls not pictured. Please excuse the dust ( haven't messed with them in a long time. The one on the left is a model 11 and the right one is a model 23 the shades are newer similar ones. The next three pictures are in the bed room. The rest are downstairs in the "dungeon"
September 4, 20196 yr Author WOW, IFC, you DO have a collection! Takes a lot years and dedication to acquire all of those. I admire those who "protect" the past. I commend you and your wife.
September 4, 20196 yr My mother grew up in Alaska in the Forties and Fifties, and she has tales of her chores including daily filling of the oil lamps around the house. I have a few that I keep on hand for power outages; I'll try to post photos later.
September 6, 20196 yr This is one of my favorites of the flat wick lamps. Made by P&A Risdon Lamp Co. Danbury CT., around the late 1800s brass font & brackets. P&A is the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing Co. They made many different lamps under a lot of patents, including the Aladdin brass burners from 1869 till 1955, when the Waterbury factory was destroyed by Hurricane Connie flooding.
September 6, 20196 yr On 9/4/2019 at 8:44 AM, JHCC said: filling of the oil lamps In the picture with the hammered dulcimer in the fore ground, to the left of it is an antique coal oil lamp filling jug. Makes the job easier.
September 6, 20196 yr Author Question: I can see why the old coal oil can would be good for filling the lamps through that tiny hole provided................but why not just unscrew the burner and pour oil in through the larger hole?
September 6, 20196 yr More control, less mess----where do you place the dripping wick and burner and chimney when accessing the larger opening? (And remember you may be doing this every day so cleaning up any mess adds up!)
September 7, 20196 yr What Thomas said, however in lieu of a jug a small funnel will work, just be careful not to over fill the bowl.
September 7, 20196 yr I sometimes use a small syringe to put oil into, (or other liquids, for that matter), small holes in containers. They can be as small as a tuberculin syringe or better a five milliliter one. Funnels are faster, but they can easily overflow the receptacle, making a mess. SLAG.
September 8, 20196 yr Until I picked up that coal oil jug, I used an old time battery filling bulb or turkey baster to fill the lamps. This flat wick lamp isn't that old. The only markings on the brass burner is Made in the US of America. I picked it up in an old antique/junk shop for $5 US because I liked the cast iron swivel/swinging hanger.
September 8, 20196 yr Author I was telling a friend the other day about all you guys and your Aladdin lamps. He mentioned he had one somewhere and if he could find it I could have it. So now I'm the proud owner of an original Aladdin Oil Lantern! I'm Blessed, indeed. I've used oil lamps all my life............from the little 1/8" round wicks all the way up to flat wicks. Love the light.............love the ambience. But I've always wanted a real Aladdin..............and now I have one. Puts out more light than I've ever seen an oil lamp produce. Now I see how people could live back in the 1800's with these things. You can actually live your life with this much light. So here's my new (to me) pride and joy.
September 8, 20196 yr Exactly, Thomas, and that oil spreads fast on anything it drips on, and can really spoil some finishes! Insulin syringes should work for very light oil, vinegar, Isopropylene. Jug, lamp, funnel? I am too clumsy for that! Congratulations on your acquisition, Chris. Slag - just found my box of assorted syringes/sharps, an hour ago. We keep those gridless devices around here, nothing like the beauties you all are showing! Robert Taylor Edited September 8, 20196 yr by Anachronist58 addendum
September 8, 20196 yr Author 2 minutes ago, Anachronist58 said: Congratulations on your acquisition, Chris. Thanks. I'm Blessed to have such generous friends! Both he and his wife were really nice to give this to me. Always wanted one and now I can join in with the rest of the proud lantern users.
September 8, 20196 yr Nice lamp Chris, it's amazing how much brighter a mantle is compared to a flat wick isn't it? Pnut Anachronist (Robert) I love railroad lamps. That looks like a fairly early one. Is it a reproduction or original? Edited September 8, 20196 yr by pnut
September 8, 20196 yr My wife collects Aladdin lamps(including the one my parents bought when they moved out to the farm). One thing I found interesting about them is that Aladdin brand lamps were first sold in 1909! So the people in the 1800’s didn’t have the benefit of the bright light!
September 8, 20196 yr Author 22 minutes ago, pnut said: Nice lamp Chris, it's amazing how much brighter a mantle is compared to a flat wick isn't it? Amen!!! 5 minutes ago, lazyassforge said: Aladdin brand lamps were first sold in 1909! Oh well, the folks in the early 1900's had a whole lot more light at night than previously. At any rate, I'm sure it made life a whole lot easier!
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