Posted 6 years ago
fortapache
(3293 items)
This is a finger lamp that probably used kerosene which some would sadly say has been turned purple. The seller admitted he had artificially irradiated it but I wanted such an example so here it is.
Around the turn of the century glass makers added manganese to make the glass clear. But oddly it would turn purple if left in sunlight. It proves it is antique but some consider it spoiled.
Anyway an interesting feature is the brass fitting built into the top of the reservoir. See photo #4. The burner screws into the fixture. The larger oil lamps would have threaded glass that the burner would screw into. Please forgive me for ending a sentence with a preposition but the "into which" thing seems a bit awkward.
The Jack-O-Lantern is foam rubber. Hopefully I will be carving a proper one this year.
That's a really neat kerosene lamp Fort, interesting about the manganese. Good luck carving your "punkin", I never can get one right
Jenni
The colour purple of this finger lamp is quite acceptable/normal looking for a lamp of this era when manganese was added to the glass mixture. I always considered it an asset for dating the lamps. What I do hate is the excess discolouration done on glass items such as milk bottles, tableware patterns, insulators and yes oil lamps when they become dark amethyst in colour. Bob
Thank you very much Newfld. I better pick up my pumpkin soon. I always pretty much do the same face. Nothing fancy.
Thank you very much LOUMANAL. It is handy as I can put around the century mark. There are some restorations Painting a 100 year old fan makes it bright and shiny but makes it less valuable to me.
Nice history on this lamp. I agree with Loumanal as the coloring is an asset.
Thank you very much dlpetersen. Good to hear.
Thank you
Caperkid
TassieDevil
elanski
mikelv85
Newfld
JImam
nutsabotas6
buckethead
gargoylecollector
kyratango
vetraio50
antiquerose
officialfuel
blunderbuss2
dlpetersen
Thank you rhinoman.
Thank you SEAN68.