Posted 12 years ago
Haymaker
(2 items)
I came across this old lamp,solid brass and very heavy,it has a wick,with a thread snuffer cap.I have no idea what exactly it is.Please forgive my ignorance.I would be most appreciative if someone could identify this for me.I placed a penny near the item,so to gauge size.
Please identify this for me.
I will take a wild guess that it has a little bit of a smudge pot look to it. The difference is in the top, no wind baffle.
Scott this thing is built like a tank.The snuffer threads are very close tolerance and it seals off tight.Which makes me think it is made to endure the elements.I have considered it being mounted on a pole inside maybe a glass dome of some sort,such as a street light.This thing is about a foot tall.Some people have mentioned it could be a railroad or carriage lamp.I am skeptical about its age.What year were close tolerance lathes first used?
Marine environment? Is it possible that it was fastened down to a flat surface with with a bolt from the bottom side?
Scott also this thing is extremely heavy.It was definitely built to last.It stands very stable on its own.Everyone I have asked young and old,have no idea what it is.
walksoftly,Marine environment is a good call.Who knows?
Scott no visible markings,I have considered this being a part from a larger object.The hole in the base does make one think,it was mounted on or in some type of fixture.The weight of this lamp,makes it something that you would not want to just tote around,so stationary is my thought.
What is the overall dimensions & wick diameter?
I'm beginning to wonder if this lamp/burner is for heating/cooking, I'm thinking alcohol as fuel, if so it would need a tight fitting lid when not in use to keep fuel from evaporating.
The mineral spirits for fuel is the right route,there is no soot.
I added a better picture.Please have a look.
This is called a spirit lamp that has been used for centuries to heat wax to seal letters and documents. This one is made of machined brass, which places it within the last 120 years. Ones that are ornate or very old can command high dollar. This one is not highly collectible, but if it is signed, it helps.
Johann sounds possible,I'm not totally convinced.What puzzles me more is that,nobody has seen one like this,surely more than one was made.Thanks for the comment.
It looks like an alcohol lamp/burner. Produced a smokless flame using grain alcohol. Used by chemists, science labs. druggists, as a smokeless heat source instead of a Bunsen burner ,,,,or in the home to vaporize a (substance) to be inhaled. Tight fitting cap kept the alcohol from evaporating