r/OilLamps

Hello! My friend gifted me this solid wood oil lamp a few months ago and I’m keen to get it working. The wick and glass tube were cracked so I replaced it with the closest match on amazon. The other larger glass vessel is original to the lamp and nestles into the top of the wood part.

Mainly, I want to know if this is safe to use indoors, and what type of oil I should be purchasing.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I bought a cheap oil lamp to see if I'd like using one over candles. Love that its little and has a handle. Just it smells so strong its unusable, I can be meters away and still smell it. I know its not the paraffin liquid fuel source cause I burn the same stuff in a glass candle which has a smaller wick yet outputs a bigger flame with less smell. I tried adjusting the wick on the lamp, the height in the picture is where I think it should be but it smells. If I put it lower the smell is less but its dimmer than a tea light candle and no longer functional as a light source. I also noticed that it isn't particularly wind resistant which surprises me, it flickers quite similar to a candle.

I'm wondering why does my lamp smell?? Am I using it wrong? Is it just poorly made? Is there a way to fix it? I hate things just going in the bin and sitting around not being used

Very excited to have the opportunity to add a little more blue to this particular collection of great lamps.

King, Son & Co. No. 25 (OMN), aka Fine Cut and Block, introduced in 1885.

https://www.eapgs.net/full-images.php?idx=100854&pat=2591

Thuro called this Diamond and Fan (Oil Lamps II, p. 101). See last pic.

Hoping to get leads on how to identify the setup for this lamp. I believe it’s old but my google search wasn’t too helpful or I didn’t use proper keywords. Any info would be appreciated. Should this have a chimney? Can I use it without one? Appreciate any input. The wick wheel says made in Budapest Hungary. It appears to be a slag glass with a faint blue streak in it.

I have this reproduction sweetheart/queen of hearts lamp that came without a chimney. Any recommendations? I would like something. With color if at all possible. Thanks!

Highly recommend picking up an Aladdin Model 12. A great burner! Waiting on another chimney and I will be in business.

On the left we have an American made Comet, likely from the 1960s.

In the center we have a Hong Kong made Comet, likely from the early 1980s.

On the right we have a modern China made Comet.

Now this will most likely come as a surprise to nobody, but materials have been noticeably reduced each time manufacturing moved. The American Comet weighs 446 grams overall, with 98g of that weight being the glass. The Hong Kong Comet weighs 437g overall with 87g of that being the glass. The China Comet weighs 388g with 55g being the glass.

Obviously the glass has gotten consistently lighter but when manufacturing moved the China the metal weight reduced as well. As I said, I’m sure it’s a surprise to nobody, but it’s interesting to see the numbers on material reduction over the years.

Now all that being said, that modern Comet goes with me every time I’m out backpacking, strapped to the outside of pack. It’s survived hundreds of miles through the woods and mountains, weeks worth of nights outdoors in all weather, and still burns true. Just goes to show, that even when they’ve cheaped out on the materials, Dietz still makes one heck of a lantern.

Given to me by my grandmother from her collection. I don’t know a lot about them. The fairy light says Clarkes Patent trademark cricklite. The mini light appears as though it may have had a handle. Enjoy!