Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Kerosene Oil Filled Lamps
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waynf
11-06-07, 01:03 PM
I couldn't find another slot for this one, so here it is, if i'm in the wrong place please advise and i will re-post. I have several antique oil lamps, one in fact off the Queen Mary, and I keep them around and filled for use in power outages, which happen around here more often than needed. Can someone give me some information or a link for information on the proper care and safety issues in using these lamps. I have one that smokes terribly and I need info on the proper trimming of wicks.
the_tow_guy
11-06-07, 01:52 PM
Some help:
http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/surv/kerolamp.htm
http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/surv/kerolamp.htm
GregH
11-06-07, 04:19 PM
I have a few oil lamps myself and there is not a lot of info out there on that type.
They are pretty simple and the link that TG provided and maybe
this one (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/29421/how_to_care_for_and_repair_a_hurricane.html) might help.
There are a couple of things that can cause a simple lamp to smoke.
If it did burn well and just started smoking it is possible the fuel could be bad.
Kerosene will evaporate and go bad over time.
If the oil is over six months old I would dump the fuel and change the wick.
Another cause of smoke is plugged vent holes in the burner base.
They can carbon up and restrict the airflow to the wick.
Another possibility is that the burner cap is missing.
The cap directs the air from the vent holes across the wick and supplies the combustion air for the wick.
If you have an Alladin, which TG's link didn't describe properly, they are a center draft lamp that uses a circular wick with a mantle above it and have some different causes of smoking.
The other type of lamp which yours likely isn't is a pressurized type like the Coleman lamp.
I have a small collection if simple lamps, the prize being a 1903 center draft Rayo.
http://www.geocities.com/smokin5070/rayolampad.jpg
Image courtesy of rayosandsuch
Have any pics of your collection?
They are pretty simple and the link that TG provided and maybe
this one (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/29421/how_to_care_for_and_repair_a_hurricane.html) might help.
There are a couple of things that can cause a simple lamp to smoke.
If it did burn well and just started smoking it is possible the fuel could be bad.
Kerosene will evaporate and go bad over time.
If the oil is over six months old I would dump the fuel and change the wick.
Another cause of smoke is plugged vent holes in the burner base.
They can carbon up and restrict the airflow to the wick.
Another possibility is that the burner cap is missing.
The cap directs the air from the vent holes across the wick and supplies the combustion air for the wick.
If you have an Alladin, which TG's link didn't describe properly, they are a center draft lamp that uses a circular wick with a mantle above it and have some different causes of smoking.
The other type of lamp which yours likely isn't is a pressurized type like the Coleman lamp.
I have a small collection if simple lamps, the prize being a 1903 center draft Rayo.
http://www.geocities.com/smokin5070/rayolampad.jpg
Image courtesy of rayosandsuch
Have any pics of your collection?