As a result, the Argand lamp produced a brighter light than other lamps did. Later, one of Argand's assistants made another improvement after discovering that a flame burns better inside a glass tube. His discovery led to the invention of the lamp chimney, a clear glass tube that surrounds the flame. During this period, whale oil and colza oil, an oil from the rape plant, became important fuels for lamps. The birth of the oil industry in the mid-1800's led to the widespread use of kerosene, a petroleum product, as lamp fuel.
Gas lamps produce light by means of one or more small gas flames.
These lamps need no wick. The gas flows from the lamp through a small opening and then burns after mixing with air. Gas lamps burn many kinds of gas, including acetylene, butane, coal gas, natural gas, producer gas, and water gas. William Murdock, a Scottish engineer, developed the first commercially important gas lamps. In 1792, Murdock lit his home with gas lamps that burned coal gas.