Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06
LAMPS AND THEIR DANGERS
How to Care for Them-CIeanliness of the
Burner Essential

Burner Essential.
From the London Queen.
The two great and very real dangers in con-
nection with lamps are dirt and carelessness.
and to these two causes may be safely at
tributed most of the so-called lamp accidents.
Consult any good lampseller and he will give
you any number Of facts bearing out this as
sertlon. He will tell you the great sources OF
danger in lamps are dirty burners and badly
hitting wicks How inconceiva5ly careless
people can be on these points it is difficult to
realize without personal observation. Here
are few instances, vouched for by lamp
dealers OF great experience and well.deseryed
reputation:
"a short time since we received letter from
gentleman engaged in scientific pursuits.
stating that a lamp which had been in use
Tor some three or four years and had ALWAYS
given the most satisfactory results had recently
,aken nre, the consequence being that the
lighted burner fell from the container very
nearly causing a serious disaster. We at once
wrote, requesting that the burner might be sent
10 us for examination and on receipt we found
as we mad anticipated. that the gauze was COM
pletely choked up with a hard coating of dirt
(but very few OF the holes being free) and that
the WICK was one size too small. We requested
our correspondent to call and on his doing so
pointed out the condition of the burner to him.
de at once admitted that the sole blame rested
oh VI Lis etTNdu., put at the same time
informed us that be was no. aware that lamp
needed so much attention in this particular.
During each year l handle thousands of
burners, which are sent to me for repairs.
wlcks or glasses, and it is surprising what a
small percentage have any pretense to cleanli-
ness, some, indeed, are scrupulously clean on
the outside, polished up with paste: the inside.
however, Is filthy, and wonder how they burn
at all. Recently received a circular lamn-
burner to put right, and found it caked inside
with wax from composite candles, which were
foolishly used TO ignite the wicks. Nv repairs
consisted in scraping off this wax and cleaning
the burner, after which the lamp burned per.
fectly. This lamp had been in use less than six
weeks Another burner brought to me held in
side store of dead flies 1--WE counted forty odd.
After removing these ami the dust the lamp
was all right.
1T is all very well to say if this or if that
be done to a lamp, an accident NAV be the re-
suit; but If lamp be treated as common
sense dictates. We know of nothing less DANGER
GUS We have ourselves been struck with as
constituent when inspecting some dirty. clogped
and damaged burner-not SO much at the
burner itself, as at the fact that the people
were able to use it at all without accident.
The utter carelessness, amounting almost 10
recklessness. displayed by certain individuals
hrst In the purchase, then in the use of oil and
lamps Is quite enough to account in nv mind
for ten times the number of accidents that
really do occur.
when the burner is thoroughly clean, and
the WICK the correct SIZE there is practically no
danger OF an accident with a lamp, no matter
even If the oil itself be inferior as only the
light is affected by the latter"
ihese instances might be indefinitely multi
pied, but the glst of all is the same. Granted
cleanliness and ordinary care there can be no
accident To begin with. the lamp should bs
trimmed and the oil filed up in the morning
every day. Once a week the oil conts!rs
should be thoroughly emptied out and 10,
small amount OF dirty oil thrown away. Next
see that the burner is clean. Whenever the
lamp burns badly this should be at once looked
10, as 1t often is the cause. If the burners are
boiled for few minutes in soda and water nj
regular intervals there viii be little difficulty
In the burning. Next see that the wicks lit
exactly. For this purpose. when new wicks
are required, the lamp burner should ALWAYS
be sent. Some people buy their wick by guess
most foolish plan-for not only must il be of
the right width, but also of the right thick
ness, SO as to allow of the oil reaching the
lame properly, and also to let the wick be
turned up or down easily. Another thing TO
ascertain is If the wick is worn out A lamp
should have fresh wick every month at least
BE careful before fitting in a new wick to see
that the latter Is perfectly dry. 1t should be
placed for ten or fifteen minttes on n hot plate
before liking II on the lgnp SO as to remove
any moisture 1t is said that soaking the wicks
In vinegar and then drying them thoroughly
prevents ali chance of smoking: but of this
there should be no fear where the lamp Is reg
uiarly and properly cleaned and trimmed. BE
very careful. In trimming the wick, not to let
any OF the charred part fall into the burner
This Is fruitful source OF trouble. Lamps with
metal reservoirs are undoubtedly safer than
those OF glass or china. as the for
mer, II upset. can be picked up and
replaced before the oil can escape. Therefore.
where children are about it is better to have
only metal containers, or else metal contain
| ers which can be slipped into the china or glass
stands. OF course the oil used must be of good
quality. There is no saving but. on the con-
trary, waste and some danger in the poor oil.
Bad oil clogs the wick and the burner, besides
giving of an unpleant and very dirty vapor
One more hint. Never turn down a lamp.
allowing it just to glimmer 1t is meant 10
burn with the flame ut full height, and when
allowed to smoldsr in this way it will either
smoke or smell-possibly both-and most GER
tainly heat rapidly, and become . distinct
SURGE Of danger.