Kerosene and Oil Lamps, 1881


Print shows 14 designs of Kleemann's St. Germain Student and other kerosene and oil lamps. The first description of a simple lamp using crude mineral oil was provided by al-Razi (Rhazes) in 9th century Baghdad, who referred to it as the "naffatah" in his Kitab al-Asrar (Book of Secrets). In 1846 Abraham Pineo Gesner invented a substitute for whale oil for lighting, distilled from coal. Later made from petroleum, kerosene became a popular lighting fuel. The use of oil lamps began thousands of years ago and continues to this day. Oil lamps are a form of lighting, and were used as an alternative to candles before the use of electric lights. A kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may be used for portable lighting. Like oil lamps, they are useful for lighting without electricity. Engraving by Charles Hinrichs, 1881.


Size: 4650px × 2936px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: 1881, kerosene, lamp, lamps, oil, paraffin, parafin