University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois I-Mark

Lamp, Fuel

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/c1b392c0-0d92-0135-23f6-0050569601ca-0
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Descriptive Information

Title
Lamp, Fuel
Description
A copper/brass lamp made of several parts. A saucer base has a ring for hanging it up and a small circular handle. On top of the saucer is a tall cylindrical post on which a canting (tilting) reservoir is mounted. There is a single wick holder at the top.
Interpretation
There is no way to know what type of fuel was used in this lamp, although it may have been a lard oil lamp. Lard oil lamps usually have flattened ribbon like wicks and this has a small opening of that type. Lard oil was easily and cheaply obtained (as opposed to whale oil). It was harder and smokier to burn than whale oil however.
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • Settling in the Midwest  
  • What's That Relic?  
  • Introduction of Artifacts as a Primary Source  
  • School Museum  
  • Inventions Multimedia Time Line  
  • Whaling Slide Show  
  • How We Learn About Communities  
  • Communities and Geography  
  • American Communities in History  
Learning Standards
  • 13 Science, Technology and Society  
  • 18 Social Systems  
  • 16 History  
Subject / Keywords
  • Camphene  
  • Whale oil  
  • Whales  
  • Whaling  
  • Lighting device  
  • Light  
  • Oil lamp  
Temporal Coverage
1840/1880
Collection Publisher
Early American Museum
Rights
Copyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier
1968.001.1060
Date Created
2-24-2003
Collection Title
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
Collection
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
TitleLamp, Fuel
DescriptionA copper/brass lamp made of several parts. A saucer base has a ring for hanging it up and a small circular handle. On top of the saucer is a tall cylindrical post on which a canting (tilting) reservoir is mounted. There is a single wick holder at the top.
InterpretationThere is no way to know what type of fuel was used in this lamp, although it may have been a lard oil lamp. Lard oil lamps usually have flattened ribbon like wicks and this has a small opening of that type. Lard oil was easily and cheaply obtained (as opposed to whale oil). It was harder and smokier to burn than whale oil however.
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • Settling in the Midwest  
  • What's That Relic?  
  • Introduction of Artifacts as a Primary Source  
  • School Museum  
  • Inventions Multimedia Time Line  
  • Whaling Slide Show  
  • How We Learn About Communities  
  • Communities and Geography  
  • American Communities in History  
Learning Standards
  • 13 Science, Technology and Society  
  • 18 Social Systems  
  • 16 History  
Subject / Keywords
  • Camphene  
  • Whale oil  
  • Whales  
  • Whaling  
  • Lighting device  
  • Light  
  • Oil lamp  
Temporal Coverage1840/1880
Collection PublisherEarly American Museum
RightsCopyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier1968.001.1060
Date Created2-24-2003
Collection TitleTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
CollectionTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)

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Lamp, Fuel
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