Plate XIX
WHALE OIL LAMPS
Period of 1850
A burner was invented consisting of two tin tubes soldered to a brass or pewter screw cap. This took the place of the single tube of the earlier lamps and gave a double flame. It was adaptable to use in lamps of ornamental glass and the enterprising Sandwich factory at once started the manufacture of pressed glass lamps to meet the demand.
The earliest type was in clear glass. Later more elaborate and costly forms were introduced and a blown receptacle for the oil fused to a molded base often had a beautiful blown center section. The patterns in these old lamps are endless. Etched and cut tops were imported and fused to Sandwich bases at the factory. The Victorian era brought in a demand for two color combinations and opaque glass lamps. We stop at the introduction of marble bases as they are very much later and the bowls for many of these lamps were foreign. No attempt has been made to illustrate all specimens, a few of the more decorative being chosen. With the early lamps no shade was used and the flickering flame of the spirit tubes gave little better light than candles but it saved the housewife the endless dipping and molding. The wick had to be constantly picked through the small opening at the side of the burner as it burned down. The fluid used was camphine. This is proof alone that no shade was used. The glass shades came into use with the “boudoir burner” which took a flat wick through a round opening patented by E. M. & Company in 1865. At this time people fitted the earlier lamp with these burners and substituted a new fluid for the earlier whale oil and camphine. We illustrate a very rare lamp of clear white glass with Dolphin standard in the Dolphin group.
Type [1.] New England Glass Works, blown top, molded four sided base column at end, baskets of fruit on each side, lions’ heads at corners, a very early and rare lamp.
Type [2.] Fluted overlaid molded howl, four sided base with two steps with fluted Colonial Column joining base and bowl. Colors similar to Type 6.
Type [3.] Shows a lamp of rare design. The quality of the glass in the fragile scrolled base with lion’s claw feet is very early, and the frosted blown bowl of great delicacy. Lamps are seldom found of this type which closely resembles the flatware of the first period.
Type [4.] Was a costlier product. It was fused in three parts and included a bulbous blown center section and cutting was often introduced on the bowl.