oil lamps - any experts?

[Phil]

I had been looking for an oil table lamp that had been converted to electric but all the ones I saw looked very blue peter so I gave up.
Looking around a few antique shops I came across a paraffin lamp in solid brass that was beautiful. So I bought it. It didn't appear to have been used for years so I took it home and cleaned it up and got it working. Finding this rather addictive I went and bought another the following day. This one was even older (I think) and as far as I can make out, could be late 1800s.
I'd love to find out more about the two lamps I bought and would love to put a date to them so, any experts?

[Dorset Bob]

Yes, I have a collection of oil lamps.
Do any of them have the maker's name on? They are usually on the wick winder(s). There is a link here which might help.

Many oil lamps will also have a registration numbers numbers on them, which makes it quite easy to date.

I have a collection of lamps ranging from small brass lamps, to the larger Duplex lamps. These were patented by James Hinks & Sons (Birmingham) in 1865.

I often burn them, and this shot is at Christmas, with my largest and smallest lamps, a small Victorian nursery light at the front, with a Banquet type lamp behind it.
These would have been in the hands of more wealthy and has a crystal cut glass fount. This particular one dates from 1887.





I hope this helps. If you have any details or pictures I am sure we can find out what you have.

Careful though Phil, they are thing of beauty and you could end up with a house full of them.

[MangoMan]

Those are lovely Bob! I love what I call Paraffin Lamps...

The last place I had in Zimbabwe I had 4 Hurricane Lamps hanging along the veranda under the overhang which I used to use at night as they didn't attract so many insects! (Which can be many and large!). And in case the lights went out in the frequent storms in summer...

They were of this variety, not quite as fancy as your I'm afraid Bob... They're beaut!!



And the veranda looked a bit like this one - we also had a corrugated iron roof, nice and noisy when it rained...lol.

[Dorset Bob]

A lovely place you had there, Bill.

I do have a Hurricane lamp somewhere.
They all play an important part in history. I have a "Punkah" burner up in the attic, which was designed not to flicker on the dining table, when the punkah wallahs were cooling the diners. Mostly used for the Officers' mess in India, I think.

I also have a Vapourising lamp, which interests me. It heats water above the oil lamp.
I think that they might have been used in Victorian hospitals.



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[HarryM1BYT]

I'm presently looking for an Aladdin Loxon oil lamp, partially for decorative purposes, but also for practical reasons - they throw out a rather good light and some heat, in case of power cuts.

They use a wick, like a normal oil lamp, but above the wick is a mantle which throws the light out, no pressure needed and no noise.

[suzublu]

I have a "Tilley" lamp in the garage, does that count

[Dorset Bob]

Originally Posted by suzublu

I have a "Tilley" lamp in the garage, does that count

And there is you making out that you have got Xenons.

[suzublu]

Originally Posted by Dorset Bob

And there is you making out that you have got Xenons.

HID bulb fitted Bob Seriously though, my father & I used to go fishing from the beach or pier, & when the tide was right during the night, we used to use this Tilley lamp, so God knows how old it is Might dig it out & re-commission it

[neilb740]

Originally Posted by suzublu

I have a "Tilley" lamp in the garage, does that count

Paraffin Tilley's are amazingly bright for what they run on.

Used to use them many years ago when camping. pre heating the burner with meths was a bit of a pain but when you got them going they were great.

To show my age a bit, In the first house we lived in when I was a kid we used to have an oil lamp in the outside toilet. An additional benefit was that if left burning it stopped the pipes freezing in winter

Tell kids these days that and they look at you like you lived in a cave lol

[Phil]

Went treasure hunting today. Bought a rather large oil lamp that had been butchered and converted to electric. It was £20 and I thought, why not. It looks very old and I wanted to try to convert it back to paraffin. An hour with the soldering iron and I have! Luckily the person that converted it didn't drill the lamp, only the burner. It isn't pretty and it could probably do with a new burner but hopefully it will be ok. I might even try to tidy it up a bit more as I didn't have any solder and just reused the solder already attached...

What do you think?
Personally I think it is a bit on the garish side. I prefer the glass and brass type. We picked up the shade separately but also today. Also bought another railway lamp. It doubles up as a heater!!