Smyrna times., 1889-01-02
Oil Lamps.
HOW TO CARE FOR AND KEEP THEM
IN RUNNING ORDER.

There are 100000 oil lamps in use
IN this city between November and
April every night" said Oil Inspector
IL. ). Cannell last week. "These fU-
ures were arrived at only a few days
ago by all the prominent oil refners
ana merchants in the CITY as represent
ing the total number of lamps that are
iilghted IN this city every evening dur
ing the winter months. We did not
go around and count the lamps in
every house, but we arrived at this
estimate by allowing eight lamps for
every gallon of oil consumed nightly.
Lamps are coming into use in the
most fashionable houses" continued
the inspector, ''and the oil men are of
course tlckled to see what a strong
hold the fashion has taken with the
public, as it means an increased de-
mand for their oil. 1t is quite common
TO purchase lamps for Christmas and
wedding presents, and lamps are now
nndIng their way into houses where
gas has been constantly employed IA
an illuminate. There are LAMPS. DESIGN
eu more for ornament than use, being
sold for 500, SIS and 800 apiece. and
am particularly anxious that the SER
wants of the rich, as well as house
keepers generally who are charged
with the care Of the lamps, should
know how to perform that task and
avoid all risk of explosions. There
neeu not be single explosion if proper
precautions shall be taken.
In the first place good oil should
be used. The law of this state REQUIRES
all OIL that is exposed for sale to stand
test OF ITO degrees before taking fire
out the OIL in this market runs from 10
TO 100 degrees. Even 11O-degree oil is
safe when it is used in properly con-
structed lamps. OIL can be had which
VIII stand a test of 300 degrees. but
this Is seldom used. A lamp should
always be kept clean, and to do this If
should be filled every day, and at the
END OF the week emptied of all its CON
tents. If the oil is kept standing a
VapOr Will form in the BODY of the
lamp, and this can be released bv re-
moving the cup through which the oil
Is poured. in a well constructed lamD
Ghls Vapor is drawn off by vent that
leads from the bowl to the burner The
removal of the cup will permit the
VapOr to escape instantly: butit shonld
not be done when the lamp is lighted
lOr Iear OF Che vapor coming in contact
win the flame. After a lamp has
oeen IN use for week ali the best part
OF the oil is burned out and the dregs
sink to the bottom. BY emptying the
lamp this residuum is removed. and
better light will be obtained.
special attention should be given
10 the burner and wick. The life of
Ihe name Is the air it sucks in through
the holes IN the disk around the wick
tube. Sometimes these holes get clog
ged or gummed up, and then the |
burner should be boiled for n few mo-
ments in salsOda and water. The soda
can De procured at any grocery store.
IarClcular care should be taken to see |
UhaC the wick tube is large enough. so |
ds not 10 0lnd the wick and check the |
How OF oil. The vent is the safety |
valve OF the lamp and it should be kent
Tree from dirt and gum bv boiling in |
salsoua and water. When this he /
comes stopped up and the vapor is not
permitted to escape from the bowl by
Une removal OF the cap an explosion F,
may ensue. But II the vent shall be |
Kept open there is no danger.
Another word of caution. Manv
people are in the habit of setting a
lamp in daytime on the mantel over
the Kitchen range, where the tempera-
ture OF the oil is increased and a vapor
Is created. An explosion happened
not long. ago from this very cause,
during the day lamps should be kept |
IN room where the oil will not get
warm. By all means never fill light
ed lamp with oil. Let people who use
lamps heed these instructions and
there will not be an explosion"