University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Lamp, Camphene;

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/ef0b9a40-0d92-0135-23f6-0050569601ca-2
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Descriptive Information

Title
Lamp, Camphene;
Description
A tin lamp with a conical base upon which is mounted a larger conical reservoir. The single wick opening which comes from the top of the lamp has a chained conical cover. There is a whole in the back of the lamp to fill it, and a small handle there as well.
Interpretation
Camphene, a combination mineral spirits and alcohol was used as a lamp fuel for a short time in the middle of the 19th century. Because whale oil was so expensive camphene was used as a replacement. Camphene was extremely volatile. If the flame from one wick heated the other wick the heat could travel back into the reservoir and explode. Thus, camphene lamps have either single wicks, or double wicks pointed away from one another. This lamp had a cover to keep the fuel from evaporating.
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  
  • Light  
  • Lighting device  
  • Oil lamp  
Temporal Coverage
1840/1865
Collection Publisher
Early American Museum
Rights
Copyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier
1968.001.1144
Date Created
2-24-2003
Collection Title
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
Collection
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
TitleLamp, Camphene;
DescriptionA tin lamp with a conical base upon which is mounted a larger conical reservoir. The single wick opening which comes from the top of the lamp has a chained conical cover. There is a whole in the back of the lamp to fill it, and a small handle there as well.
InterpretationCamphene, a combination mineral spirits and alcohol was used as a lamp fuel for a short time in the middle of the 19th century. Because whale oil was so expensive camphene was used as a replacement. Camphene was extremely volatile. If the flame from one wick heated the other wick the heat could travel back into the reservoir and explode. Thus, camphene lamps have either single wicks, or double wicks pointed away from one another. This lamp had a cover to keep the fuel from evaporating.
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  
  • Light  
  • Lighting device  
  • Oil lamp  
Temporal Coverage1840/1865
Collection PublisherEarly American Museum
RightsCopyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier1968.001.1144
Date Created2-24-2003
Collection TitleTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
CollectionTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)

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