Grandma's Coal Oil Lamp

On this cold winter's evening I dug out my Grandmother's old coal oil lamp. It is hard to believe that this was the only lighting many had only 75 years ago in the rural South. I'm shown lighting it with a kitchen match, replacing the chimney, adjusting the wick for a better flame, and then blowing out the flame.

Coal oil was the Southern name for kerosene. It was used for fuel for lighting by lamp and lantern and also fuel for igniting kindling to get the fire going for home heating.

Kind of homey, isn't it?

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• messabout1
• scottsboro
• alabama
• coal
• oil
• lamp
• kerosene
• rural
• south

[geigy]

Noticed another chimney off to the side there - are there different types?

[messabout1]

@geigy The old lamps had a standardized chimney base so a variety of chimneys could be used on them but I think the variety was only for decorative purposes. I prefer the long slender but plain ones. the thin glass is very fragile. I plan to do a more explanatory video about the lamp soon.

[yankeefrog39]

I like the way you showed it. You can get a true picture of how much light is given off during those nights. Unlike the Hollywood movies show. Thanks.

[messabout1]

@yankeefrog39 They really didn't give off a great amount of light but the old folks made good use of the daylight hours and went to bed early in the night . . . . . . . thank you Mr. Edison for the electric light, a world changer for certain.

[geriatric1927]

A good idea to save it and keep it in working condition the way things are going in the  world these days you might really need it.

[messabout1]

@geriatric1927 Yes Peter, but I really try to be optimistic about the future. I truly think that there are technological breakthroughs coming that will make the world a better place for all of us

[Faust6688]

Amazing and absorbing. Good job.

[fehquig]

I have one of those... They are great for when the power goes out.

[messabout1]

@grandplans We also use the lamps when the power goes out. i also use them some on my old houseboat and enjoy their warmth and glow very much

[messabout1]

@hawaiinani Yes, you are not the only one wanting to hear stories about my grandmother