Oil lamp
Oil lamps are lighting fixtures that are operated with oils as fuel. They were thousands of years an important source of artificial light.
Precursor
The first lamps were filled with animal fats, shallow stone bowls, which had a small groove on the edge of the wick. The wicks were initially only from plant fibers, and later from fabric remnants. Such shell lamps were used in some regions already years ago about 10,000.
Early oil lamps
For many centuries, this type of lamp developed further barely even when different fuels and housing forms from clay and stone appeared. A substantial improvement has been made possible by the use of vegetable oils. Now the shells could be covered and thus protected from contamination.
Among the Romans, oil lamps were a mass product. Some lamp manufacturers stamped their names on the bottoms of the products, these pieces are referred to as Company lamps. Many Roman oil lamps were decorated, the area of the upper surface on which the subject is attached, is called the mirror. This usually is also the hole for filling the oil. The wick is inserted into the front extension of the lamp, the so-called snout.
The fuels ( fat, tallow, fish oil, oil) used are thick, so they can to a few centimeters in the wick upward rise only a few millimeters. Does the fuel to run out, burn up a portion of the wick.
Oil lamps are older than candles. References to candles, there are only applied to the first century AD But even centuries later candles were still more expensive than oil lamps. Because declined in the Middle Ages trade of olive oil, preferably one made use of in the north of the Alps countries kindling, torches and tallow candles. Candles were often used in the sacral area.
Modern developments
In the early modern period was found technical solutions to develop the oil lamps. A first striking innovation was the Cardanlampe. In the 18th century models with new wick forms, for example wide band wicks appear. Hand pump lamps were inspired by the candle sticks.
Modern oil lamp after the fall Cardano bottles principle, 2007
Argand burner
The biggest step on the path to a brighter burning oil lamp Aimé Argand succeeded, a Swiss living in France, who introduced about 1783 a lamp, the burner was constructed of a metal cylinder with a double wall. In the hollow wall, a round cotton wick was attached to a fuel feeding through a separate tank. The inner cylinder was open at the bottom so that air through the inside could get to the wick. In addition, Argand put a metal cylinder over the flame to get by stack effect a higher train. The metal cylinder was replaced in 1784 by a glass cylinder. The Argandsche burner was used for almost all later oil lamps (clockwork lamps, Moderateurlampen ) and the kerosene lamps.
The traditional oil lamps disappeared after the introduction of the kerosene lamp in the mid- 19th century in Europe and North America almost everywhere. In other cultural areas they remained until well into the 20th century and are widely used in certain ritual contexts today as indispensable attributes.
The term oil lamp was in common usage rapidly from the conventional, powered by vegetable oil lamp types over to the kerosene lamps. The term for the device remained, while the focal agent was replaced.
Öluhr
To measure time, glass oil lamps were provided with markings from the 16th century. At the booth of the remaining oil could read the elapsed time. Oil watches are among the elemental watches and are colloquially referred to as time lamps.
Not to be confused is the Öluhr with the movements, which were used in some oil lamps for pumping the oil from the reservoir to the wick.
Trivia
- As a magic wand applies the " Magic Lamp" in the history of Aladdin in the tales of the Arabian Nights.
- In a biblical context, oil lamps are found in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
- Tranfunzel called a weak lamp, or a weak bulbs. Occasionally, lazy people are referred to as " Tranfunzel ".