I have used kerosene lamps and lanterns for decades now. Most of the lamps currently available locally are from China, but they still function. I have older antique ones from the early 1900's ( and possibly earlier) and although they are definitely sturdier than newer ones, they function basically the same.
When you purchase a newer lamp (not to be confused with a lantern for OUTSIDE light) there are two wick sizes. The smaller wick (5/8") burns longer on the same amount of fuel, with less odor but less light. The larger (7/8") gives more light but also uses more fuel. There is even a small round wick for those tiny nightlights, which use even less in fuel and give off little light but then again, a "little" light, when you are in the DARK, is a wonderful thing.
I also have a double wick lamp from Lehman's, which is great for a bright light (for a lamp) but is also very difficult to adjust and get a complete burn without the odor of incomplete combustion. I have a couple of Alladins but don't use them much as the regular kero lamps give me the basic light I need. I also don't like the mantle part of the Alladin as they seem, to me, to be high maintenance.
I have been on grid AND off-grid when the electricity went out and I always brought out the old kero's. Compared to the dark, a kerosene lamp is a modern item of great value. They ALWAYS work. Yes, you must have fuel and wicks but I have used K-1, regular kerosene, diesel and even # 2 fuel oil. Just don't EVER use gasoline or Coleman fuels. They will explode, I'm told.
You must keep the wick trimmed as it burns down, which is best done every few days in daylight hours. Most of the smell in modern lamps is from an improperly trimmed wick. Incidentally, you can trim them in various shapes to produce different flame shapes.
All in all, I totally and completely recommend having several fuel oil lamps for any emergency, even a soft dinner by lamp light. They are cheap to acquire and use.
As to lanterns, they are for outside light and give off more smell than a lamp but will stay lit in pretty heavy gusts. If you don't have a modern flashlight they beat the heck out of a torch. Don't burn them inside though as the design is for wind protection not odorless lighting. Most modern ones are from China also and really are pretty flimsy compared to older American and German lanterns you can find at flea markets and antique shops. Just make sure on used ones that there is no rust or leakage around the bottom. Even the Dietz Lanterns are made in China now. Better than no light though,. without doubt.
For both lamps and lanterns, you should stock extra glass globes and wicks. I get more breakage in lamps than lanterns though, because the glass is thiner and not locked down.
Go out today and buy yourself 3 or 4 lamps and a lantern, lots of extra wicks (they are cheap and make great trade items) and 5 gal of kerosene or the more expensive lamp oil which is more refinned and gives off less odor. There might come a day when you will thank your lucky stars you are not in the dark. Don't forget some matches as they are a little hard to light with a flint and steel.
On somewhat of a side note, the kerosene lamps (or coal oil as they were first called) became popular during and after the War of Northern aggression. They replaced (almost immediately) the "betty lamp" which the world used for the first few thousand years. I keep some small round wick (just like the small nightlamps mentioned above) stored for use in a "betty lamp" because "someday" the kero might not be available and a betty can use vegtable oils and even animal fat for fuel. They just give off more smoke and less light. They also do not wick well due to low capillary action. That is why a betty style lamp has the wick at about the same height as the fuel level, like the original aladdin style, genie lamp (not the same as the modern Aladdin brand kero lamp.)
Kerosene lamps _ 5 stars on The Basic list of "Cheap But Must Have Essentials".
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Topic: Oil Lamps (Read 9651 times)