One excellent way to establish the history of your antique oil lamp is by finding a patent number or date. This is usually on the winder button, but it might also be on the another spot on the burner or base of your lamp. When you find a number of a US-made lamp, look it up on at the US Patent and Trademark Office.
How do you know if a lamp is worth money?
Lamps are often more valuable when left in an original condition with most or all the original parts. Lightly scratch the underside of the lamp surface to determine the type of material it is made from. Some lamps may appear to be made of metal, but they might also be painted to look and feel just like metal.
How long is oil lamp good for?
Considerations. According to CFD Publications, lamp oil has “an indefinite shelf life” as long as you store the oil properly. Place the bottle of lamp oil in a dry and slightly warm area, keeping the oil at room temperature when not in use. Avoid placing the oil in colder rooms and do not freeze the lamp oil.
What is the font on an oil lamp?
Collar/Oil Font
The oil font is a glass or metal container that holds the oil in the lamp.
How many types of oil lamps are there?
There are three types: dead-flame, hot-blast, and cold-blast.
How can you tell if a lamp is brass?
Solid brass is not magnetic. If the magnet sticks, the item is usually steel or cast iron, with a brass plating. If the magnet does not stick, you can test further by scratching a hidden area with a sharp tool. If you see a shiny yellow scratch, the item is likely solid brass.
How do you tell if a lamp is a Stiffel?
Stiffel lamps often contain a foil signature decal on the bottom of the lamp’s metal or high-quality wood base. Look for “Stiffel Lamp Company,” “SLC” or “Stiffel” on the decal or etched into the bottom of the lamp’s base.
Can you burn old lamp oil?
Lamp oil can be purchased in most supermarkets, home improvement, and hardware stores, but it is more expensive than kerosene. It also does not burn as brightly as kerosene. Lamp oil is always safe to burn indoors without venting to the outside.
What is the cleanest burning lamp oil?
The cleanest burning fuel is olive oil, the fuel that Aaron was directed to use for temple light in the book of Exodus. Olive oil is more than 99% pure. If the wick is properly trimmed and there is no draft, it should not smoke. Olive oil is a clean renewable fuel that does not produce smoke or odor.
How long does a oil lamp wick last?
An 8 inch wick will last through about 15 gallons of lamp oil (that’s enough wick to burn 24 hours a day for 320 days). Consider this: The distance from the top of the wick to the fuel, for any average oil lamp or lantern, is 6 inches.
How do you remove an oil lamp collar?
I use a strong pair of needle nose pliers. The adhesion of the plaster to the collar may be tenuous enough that one can peel away the collar like removing the lid from a sardine can. If you cannot grip the bottom edge of the collar to try this, then split the side of collar using a nippers or Dremel cutting disc.
Can oil lamps explode?
When full of oil, of course a lamp contains no gas; but immediately on lighting the lamp, consumption of oil begins, soon leaving a space of gas, which commences to form as the lamp warms up, and after burning a short time, sufficient gas will accumulate to form an explosion.
When did oil lamps replace candles?
Oil lamps are a form of lighting, and were used as an alternative to candles before the use of electric lights. Starting in 1780, the Argand lamp quickly replaced other oil lamps still in their basic ancient form. These in turn were replaced by the kerosene lamp in about 1850.
How can you tell if a lamp is bronze or brass?
Perhaps the best way to distinguish between brass and bronze is through their color. Brass usually has a muted yellow shade, much like dull gold, which makes it a good material for furniture and fixtures. Bronze, on the other hand, looks almost always a reddish brown.
How can you tell if it’s brass or gold?
Apply acid to the metal.
Apply concentrated acid to the metal. Brass will react with acids and gold will not. If you see bubbling or discoloration where the acid is applied, your piece is brass. If there is no change after applying the acid, you have gold.
Is my lamp brass or bronze?
You can tell the difference with the help of a magnet. If you hold a magnet against the item and feel a pull, you know the piece is brass plated. If there’s no attraction, then the piece is solid brass. That’s because the underlying metal is usually iron or steel, both of which are magnetic.
Are Stiffel lamps valuable?
A Stiffel lamp has a rare quality that transcends the strictly utilitarian and goes beyond the merely decorative. The purchase of a Stiffel lamp is one of the finest investments you could make for your home.
What is a Capodimonte lamp?
Capodimonte is the finest grade of Italian porcelain that rivals any of the finest porcelains that are produced.Themes range from simple nature and garden designs to downright outrageous.
How can you tell if a lamp is a mid century?
Know The Look
Like midcentury architecture, furniture and textiles, the lamps from this period have geometric shapes, simple lines and a space-age feel. Look for shapes such as globes, hourglasses and rings to kickstart your search.
How much is an antique oil lamp worth?
Most antique oil lamps sell for between $25 and $150, but some examples may be especially valuable. Lamps with cut crystal shades, beautiful details, unusual colors, and other features can bring the most at auction.
Can you use olive oil in oil lamps?
Olive Oil: An odorless, smokeless renewable fuel that is a popular alternative to kerosene or lamp oil.Olive oil is not usually suitable for wick-type lamps, but you can retrofit an olive oil lamp on your own. Olive oil may be suitable for thick wicks because it does not burn until it reaches 550° F.
Contents