We own dozens of oil lamps (kerosene) and keep the lamps scattered thru out the house. There are miniature lamps, and huge very old lamps of all shapes and sizes and all have nice trimmed wicks that give gentle bright light. The lamps have proven their worth on many a dark rainy night when the winds roar and trees fall.
Between our home generator and the lamps and various forms of flashlights (torches to you good folks in Great Britain and Ireland) we're able to survive the storms without busted knee caps and broken bones.
I haven't the time at present to dive into great detail but suffice it to say if you're a novice prepper (survivalist) hit the garage sales and snatch the good offerings...if the brass works screw into the base, its a good one, and probably very old. If the wick works screw onto the base its still good but not high quality. I'm not sure when the manufacturing techniques changed but I'm sure someone will inform us.
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| Pictured, four oil lamps from Google files. Not mine. |
That is all.
Stephen
I have saved a link to a site that sells oil lamp brass that screws onto mason jars, and the brass with a wick is only $3 so I thought it might be handy to buy a dozen to put back just in case. Like you, I have a number of kerosene lamps on hand so I haven't ordered them yet. When I was growing up we called kerosene " coal oil " in my area of the country.
ReplyDeleteYep, coal oil when I too was a child. Good idea on the Mason Jar lamps...seems I've seen those in the past. Smart, Bubba.
DeleteFinding mantles can be problematic.
ReplyDeleteHere 'ya are, Bro....
Deletehttp://www.amazon.com/Wicks-For-Kerosene-Lanterns-Pack/dp/B000RFA04O
If there aren't any good flea markets around, Lehmans sells really good kerosene lamps, like those in your picture, but they cost a lot.
ReplyDeleteI like your new header. That's probably one of my all time favorite books and the movie was excellent.
Thanks, my friend...Lehman's catalog makes fine reading. My wife hides 'em from me. I like the header too. Kinda leads into my last post.
DeleteYears ago, after a severe thunderstorm, I was without power for a few days.
ReplyDeleteBeing single, and having a gas stove, the only inconvenience was the lack of electric lights. The spring weather was still cool, so an open window was more than comfortable.
I'd sit and read at the kitchen table, with an inexpensive kerosene lamp I'd bought at a hardware store years before. The light was perfect and the memory was imprinted forever.
One season, several years ago, we were brushed by two hurricanes. Between kerosene lamps, flashlights and our generator we survived just fine, awful hot and humid, but I'd shut the generator off and we'd use the lamps...yep, great memories. Well, all except for the heat. Never forget, week of Labor Day.
DeleteStephen,
ReplyDeleteI just love my lamps, keep them handy not just for emergencies. Enjoy!!!
They are nice...I've lost count of how many we own. We have miniature oil lamps in our bathrooms.
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