Burning Fluid Lamp

Manufacturer Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. (American (Sandwich, MA), 1825 - 1888)

Date1830-1840

MediumFlint clear pressed glass, brass fittings, missing chimney

Dimensions11 1/2 x 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 in. (29.2 x 8.3 x 8.3 cm)

ClassificationsDecorative Arts, Glass

Credit LineGift of James W. Jung, Sacajawea #90. In the Iowa Quester Glass Collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberUM2012.325

Status

Not on view

Collections

CultureAmerican

Label TextBurning fluid is mixture of alcohol and turpentine, used as lamp fuel in the 19th century. Burning fluid, which was dangerously explosive, was replaced by kerosene in the late 1850s.The burner from a lamp utilizing burning fluid, or camphene, is distinguished by the presence of tapered wick tubes extending upward at an angle away from the lamp. While sometimes found with only a single wick tube, they are most frequently found with two. Burning fluid, being very volatile, benefited from this design that transferred heat away from the fuel (unlike the design of a whale oil burner). Like in this example, these burners most often had caps attached to small chains to extinguish the flame and to prevent evaporation of the fluid when not in use. Fluid burners were almost always made of brass and had a threaded base. The wicks were adjusted by picking from the wick tube opening with a pickwick, an example of which can be found in this exhibition.

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