Home Treasures

Lamps: History of Light

Numerous references to older ages have illuminated the fact that the lamps have been used to spread light, even before electricity was invented, and lighting was given a new meaning. The use of lamps can be divided into two eras: the pre-electric and post-electrical.

The pre-electric era

The invention and first use of the lamp can be dated to 70,000 BC. At that time, there was no metal or bronze to make lamps instead of civilization then uses hollow rocks and shells. These hollow rocks were filled with moss and other natural substances and soaked in animal fat. Animal fat acted as oil and that is how the lights came on first.

With the advent of pottery, and bronze of copper and age, humans began to make lamps that imitated other natural forms. Wicks, came into being much later and were used for flame monitoring or speed of combustion. In the 7th century BC, the Greeks began to use clay lamps, which replaced the hand-held torches. The word "light" has been derived from the Greek word "hoes", meaning "torch".

Design change

There was a significant change in the design lamps in the 18th century, when the central burner was invented. With the invention of the VCR, a separate fuel source was made of metal. Another small change made was the addition of a metal tube that could be adjusted to control the intensity of the flame or light.

This was a breakthrough in terms of lighting, as with the setting, human beings were able to diminish or make it bright lighting as needed. Another aspect was added to the new lamp I was in a glass chimney. The role of the glass chimney was to protect the flame, as well as control the flow of air.

Swiss chemist Ami Argand used hollow circular wick in an oil lamp for the first time in 1783.

Fuels for lighting

Different types of fuels have been used for the lighting of a lamp of between 70,000 a. C. and now. Most of the early forms of fuel were beeswax, olive oil, animal fat, oil fish, sesame oil, whale oil, nut oil etc., coinciding with one of the most used fuel for lighting a lamp until late 18th century.

Around 1859, the process first began drilling for oil and the advent of kerosene, which is a derivative oil lamp became more popular and more use. Allowed kerosene lighting was first introduced in Germany in 1853.

During the same in two other products were used for lighting the lamp and are natural gas and coal. The first use of coal gas lamps was 1784.

Electric lighting lamps
Lamps have come a long way to use coal gas to electricity. In 1801, Sir Humphrey Davy of England invented the electric arc lamp carbon, which was the first of its kind. The operating principle of this lamp was simple and included hitch of two carbon rods to an electrical outlet.

The carbon rods were kept at a distance from each other so that electrical current can flow through the arch and thus vaporize carbon to create white light. Around 1857, AE Becquerel of France came up with the theory of fluorescent lighting lamps. In the 1870s, the unthinkable happened to Thomas Edison invents the first incandescent electric lamp. Since then the incandescent lamps were used to lighting purposes in homes until around the 20th century.

In 1901, Peter Cooper Hewitt patented his new invention, the mercury vapor lamp. This was another type of arc lamp illumination enhanced by mercury vapors, which were enclosed in a glass ampoule. The mercury vapor lamps set the prototype of the fluorescent lighting.

The neon lamp was invented by Georges Claude of France in 1911 followed by Irving Langmuir, an American who invented the incandescent electric light bulb filled with gas in 1915. In 1927, Hans Spanner, Friedrich Meyer, and Edmund Germer patented the first fluorescent lamp. Lamps Fluorescent lighting provided a better comparison with mercury vapor lamps as they were covered from inside with beryllium.

Since We have been using different forms of lighting the lamps, which includes Mercury vapors, incandescent lamps and even today, in some corners of the earth people still use the old wick and oil lamp for lighting their homes.

About the Author

Moe Tamani is an importer of Moroccan lamps and contributes on several Moroccan related sites as well as a designer of Henna Lamps.

Hanging Burnished Brass Plated Lamp with Glass Chimney $30.00

ANTIQUE VINTAGE FRENCH PINK GLASS BODY BRASS BASE OIL LAMP GLASS CHIMNEY 1900s $30.10

Chimney Gray Art Deco Table Lamp $585.20

Replacement Chimney funnel Glass for Oil Lamp $9.51

Handmade primitive house lamp with rusty shade chimney Must SEe $49.99

Vintage Lamp Shade Goes Over a Glass Chimney Style Fabric Taupey Floral Brocade $24.99

VINTAGE 19" HURRUCANE LAMP W/CHIMNEY COUNTRY MANOR $49.99

Old Pewter Chamberstick Desk / Table Electric Lamp White Glass Chimney Shade $36.99

Lg Clear Crackle Glass Lamp Globe Chimney Fitted Base $4.90

Vintage oil lamp glass chimney for duplex type burner oval $7.91

2 ORIGINAL GRIFFIN BRAND / HINKS FIT GLASS OIL LAMP CHIMNEYS $23.75

LOT OF 2..GLASS CHIMNEYS..OIL LAMP..ELECTRIC LAMP..LOOK $5.99

VINTAGE CHIMNEY LAMP red NIGHT LIGHT silicone BULB $12.95

Chimney Gray Art Deco Tripod Floor Lamp $1,342.60

(2) 3" brass plate lamp chimney holders / parts $2.00

Beautiful Crystal Hurricane Lamp Globe Chimney Shade or Sconce 8" Tall $12.99

* Collectible Flowered Candle w/ Lamp Chimney * GC * $5.55

Collectible 3 Little Girls ANRI Candle w/ Lamp Chimney $5.55

* Collectible Philippines Candle w/ Lamp Chimney * GC * $5.55

Vintage Antique Glass Candle Chimney with 3 footed base wax,lamp,light, $7.99

Aladdin 23 Brass Vintage Oil Lamp 1960s 24" high & glass chimney & white shade $31.67

Lamplight Farms Oil Lamp Hobnail Clear Glass Chimney Decorated Wick Vintage 70's $22.00

ELECTRIC AMBER GLASS LAMP WITH CHIMNEY $3.99

Punched Metal Base Candle Holder Lamp Chimney 9 7/8" H $9.99

Aladdin Mantle Lamp R103 Lox-On Chimney $54.50

Kerosene Lamp & Chimney for fruit jar comversion $7.95

4 Terra Cotta Style LED Solar Chimney Yard Light Lamp $29.99

Aladdin oil lamp vintage Davisil glass chimney funnel loxon $15.91

Wine Bottle Oil Lamp - Wick with Chimney Set-Turn A Keepsake Bottle Into A Lamp! $13.75

ASKO 8061887 Lamp chimney $5.00

NEW CHIMNEY LAMP SHADE LAMPSHADES SHADES PLEATED HOMESPUN, FIRST QUALITY 14 $18.89

NEW CHIMNEY LAMP SHADE LAMPSHADES SHADES PLEATED DARK NAVY BLUE, FIRST QUALITY $17.89

NEW CHIMNEY LAMP SHADE LAMPSHADES SHADES PLEATED RICH BURGUNDY, FIRST QUALITY $18.89

NEW CHIMNEY LAMP SHADE LAMPSHADES SHADES PLEATED DARK NAVY BLUE, FIRST QUALITY 4 $18.89

Vintage Decorative Table Lamp with Glass Globe & Chimney $35.99

LARGE 18 1/2" Ornate ANTIQUE CLEAR GLASS KEROSENE OIL LAMP with Chimney Vintage $31.19

Large 22" Electrified Primitive Punched Tin Chimney Lantern Lamp Country Accent $71.97

Large 22" Electrified Primitive Punched Tin Chimney Lantern Lamp Country Accent $71.97

Oil, Kerosene Lamp or Candle Holder 9 inch Hurricane Chimney - Free Shipping $14.99

11.5 inch Hurricane Chimney for Kerosene Lamp or Candle Holder - Free Shipping $14.99

---