Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-15
THE LINEAGE OF THE LAMP.
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

VTTAsHINGToN Sept. IA collection of all the
wv various illuminating devices used throughout
the history of the world is being prepared
by DR. Walter Hough, of the National museum here
and will placed exhibition space can
found for it.
Slowed away in large ar-tight cabinets in Dr.
Houghs office is the complete record of mans develop
ment shown by his lighting appliances from the
days of the primitive campfire to the Tungsten
fament is the hrebrand by which aboriginal
transferred fire from tribe to rbe here is the
animals skull which constituted the FIRST attempt at
lamp and the creased stick that superseded by the
candle. part of the collection is already occupying
three in the museum where it attracts great
deal of attention among visitors.
The story told by this collection is most unusual
According to the authorities, it
time before began to pay any attention fire
all. all about them-in the volcanoes. the
lightning in the friction of the branches
but they took no more account of it than did the
animals. Then some man, little more intelligent
than rest recognizing it's power undertook
supply of fire from of these sources, and
finally distributed 1t by frebrands throughout
Thus began the campfire which is represented in
the museum collection by picture, and by hrebrands
of every description belonging to every period.
Towards the end of this campfire period began
to DISPLAY ingenuity He got tired of travelling long
distances with blazing sticks that often burned his
fingers and he got tired of going to with other
tribes stole his fire. He tried dipping the sticks
in resin and fat which made them burn longer; but
even this unsatisfactory. The demanded
invention and it last. ancient Edison
discovered that by putting lot of fat in hollow
stone, or shell, animals skull and placing a
wick in it he had a device which would burn for long
time This the primitive beginning of the lamp
often the whole body of fish bird used In
of the collection now exhibit in the museum
there is stormy petrol with a piece fiber in its
mouth, which acted in the nature of a wick. This
birds body was composed largely of fat and would
burn for hours.
The next step development is represented
in the collection by odd curved stone slabs
to be used in he
age Fat or grease poured these stone dishes
and circle of moss strewn around the edge to
wick. Lamps of this kind still found in
primitive peoples
Bv this time men had become familiar with fire. and
had even experiments with it, One of these
pottery and pottery lamps became the rage
At first they simple little bowls with a slight
twist in the edge hold the wick but gradually they
devaloned elaborate patterns growing talent
of the potters until they somewhat resembled tiny
pots with spout in the side for wick and hole at
the top where the oil poured in. The museums
specmens this type of lamp especially
able, many having been sent in from all parts of
Europe ASIA displaying the most ancient crafts
manshp and design. A hundred or more such lamps
were sometimes required to light ROOM and
although the people ingenious enough to invent
perfume the OIL according Dr. Hough, the place
must have smeled like butcher shop fire. A
dilapidated lamp containing this early per-
fumed oil is of the most priced specimens in the
museums collection.
Then came copper and bronze, the lamps
assumed symmetry and design as civilization
and mechanic arts progressed Pottery lamps
soon out and brass and lamps began to
armament the houses churches tackled walls
and suspended in chandeliers. - is Dr. Hough's per-
sonal belief that famous lamp which Aladdn's
mother gave to the peddler was a pottery lamp and
the new she received made of copper.
The next step in lamp architecture iron, and
many were curious designs wrought in this metal
An occasional lamp from Italy Spain is always
being discovered by explorer for antiques, who
[ % the But all this time, although
various metals had been discovered and applied to
lamps there improvement whatever in the
mechanism itself The glass haS superseded iron