The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-22
THE REASON WHY.
A Chemist Tells How
Lamps Explode.
SOME OIL IS TOO CHEAP.
Many Kinds of Defective Lamps Are
the Causes, as Well as Careless
ness and ignorance.
SOME OIL is TOO CHEAP

A very large number OF all the fires In
this city last year, and every year before,
were caused by the explosion of coal-oil
lamps
"Why do lamps exploded"
This question was put to a chemist, A. A.
Cunningham by name, by a CALL reporter.
'There are three reasons" SAID he
promptly There are, OF course, more than
three reasons. but these are the chief ones
In fact all the causes of lamp explosions
may be traced 10 one of these three pri-
mary causes:
THE first is due to inferior lamps.
THE second cause Is found In the fact
that INSCRIPTIONS men sell an oil of too low
a fash point.
"And the third reason lies in the careless
ness of those who handle lamps or in the
ignorance OF how TO handle them.
sometimes an element of ali these three
may be found in the one cause. When this
is tue the fire is generally pretty strong
and does considerable damage.'
Now. as TO the inferior lamps. All
lamps ought to have metallic oil reservoirs.
Why? So that when, from any cause
whatever, there is an inclination OF the oil
TO explode the reservoir is strong enough TO
Withstand the pressure of the gas. In that
there is no explosion.
'All lamps ought TO be so constructed
that no air, or but very little, is allowed TO
penetrate into the oil reservoir. When you
buy lamps be sure to get one with an air
tight reservoir And be sure, too, that the
burner is of sufficient distance from the oil
reservoir, so that the heat near the oil never
gets too intense. Defective lamps of this
description are very common. Better pay
a good price aud get safe lamp.
las to the test of the oil. Well, no oil
should be sold with fash point below 100
deg. Fahrenheit. There is a law against
selling an inferior oil for burning and light
ing purpcees. When an explosion does oc-
cur have the oil tested II you find it below
the standard you can make the sellers OF the
oil or its manufacturers pay the damages,
and perhaps something besides.
III the oil will flash at a lower tempera-
ture than 100 it will give off gases that will
readily take fire. These gases are capable
of combustion. but will not explode. They
are similar in comparison TO coal gas, which
is c0mbustu0us but not explosive.
when these gases get mixed with the
air-it may be through defective burner, it
may be from the lamp having too many in
lets for air in the oi-receiver or ii may be
from the carelessness of the people handling
1t explosive compound is produced
which only needs the application OF flame
TO make il desirable 10 call In the Fire De-
Dartment.
This explosive compound is formed
when the air and the gas nix to the consist
ency OF one part gas and ten parts air.
IF the oil Is Of the proper flash point
and the lamp is properly constructed, with
the burner far enough away from the air
receiver. and no air is admitted TO the re-
ceiYcr, there is no fear of explosion If the
person handling the lamp is not ignorant
or careless.
and such light from such lamp is
better. is steadier and softer 10 the eyes
than gas made from coal.
Only the third cause remains to be con-
sidered, and right here | am afraid you will
find the greatest of all and the most num-
eTous cause Of lamp explosions.
in handling lamps be sure to have the
oil receiver full every time You light the
lamp. Most people are very careless or
ignorant on this point. They only I'LL the
lamp when ii shows by the decreasing flame
that the reservoir is depleted.
Fill the lamp every day.
I'm trimming your lamp do not cut off
the charred edges of the wick, but rub them
off with soft paper. Why? So that the
wick viii be smoother after the operation,
and 1t will give a steader light and make
the lamp less likely to explode.
Before putting n a new wick dry the
wick in the oven. but be careful not to char
II. This removes all moisture and what
ever foreign gases may be accumul ated in it.
This is little thing, but 1t might often
save an eX losioD and will tend 10 give a
steadier and better flame.
And when you walk from one room to
another always lower the flame. This Is
highly important lis neglect has caused
thousands of explosions which otherwise
would never have happened.
And, remember, If you do have an ex-
plosion be sure 10 have the oil tested There
are many inferior oils on the market, but
they are sold in direct violation of the law.
Those who sell them should be punished to
the full extent of the law"