Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-14
THE LINEAGE, OF THE MODERN LAMP
ny FREDERIC i. IIAs

WASHINGTON. y. G.. September
collection OF all the various illumi-
mating devices used throughout tho
history Of the world is now being pre-
pared by DR.. Walter Tough. Of the
national Museum here. and VIII be
placed on exhibition as soon AS snace
can be found for it.
slowed away in large air-tirh,
cabinets in DR.. Ifouch's Office Is the
complete record of mans DEVELOPMENT
as shown by his lighting appliances
from the days 81 the primitive camp
fire to the present Tungsten nlalnen,.
Here Is the nrcbrand by which our
AooriSinai ancestor transferred fire
from tribe TO tribe: here is the auirnaTs
skull which constituted the first at
tempt at lamp, and tho creased
stick that was superseded 10y the cam
die. y part OF tho collection is al
ready occupying three cases in the rnu-
scum. where it, attracts "A great deal OF
attention among visitors
The story told by this collection ia
a most unusual one. According 10 the
museum authorities. II was some time
before men began to pay any atten-
ton TO Ire at All. II was all about
thcm-in the volcanoes. In the light
ming and in the friction OF the tree
branchcS-but they took no moro ac
count o. IL than did the animals
Then some one mau. IA little more
Intelligent than tho rest. rccogniaiug
its power undertook to conserve a
supply Of FIRE from one az these sources.
am finally distributed il by firehrauds
throughout the land. Thus began tho
campfire age. which is represented IN
the museum collection by picture.
and by frchrands OF every description
belonging to every period.
Towards the end Of this campfire
period. man began to display ingenuity.
He got tired OF travelling long dis
tances with blazing sticks that often
burned his fingers. and he got tired
OF going TO war with other tribes who
stole his fire He tried dipping the
sticks in resin and fat. which made
them burn longer. hut even this waa
unsatisfactory. The age demanded an
invention, and II came at last. Some
ancient Edison d discovered that by put
ting a lot Of fat in a hollow stone or
sea shell or animals skull and placing
wick in II lie had :, device which
would burn for long time This was
the primitive beginning OF the lamp.
often the whole body OF sh o. bird
was used. In tho part OF the coil"c-
ton now on exhibit in the museum
there is stormy petrol with a piece
OF fiber in it's mouth. which acted IN
tho nature OF n wick. This birds body
was composed largely Of fat and would
burn for hours.
The next stem ir- mans dcNclopmch'
is represented in the collection by
number Of odd curved stone slabs sup
posed to he lamps which wcr" uscd
in tho stone age. Fat or grease was
poured into these stone dishes ana
circle OF moss strcwn arourh me 'n-"
ia ac; as a wick. l.amps OF TINS Nlnn
are stili found in use among primitive
peoples.
Nv this time men had hecom" IA
,niljar with fire. and had even tried
few experiments with 1T. one or 'hcSe
resulted in pottery. ana pottery inliips
Srr
simple little bowls with slight twlsl
in the edge to hold the wick. hat
gradually they developed elaborate
patterns with the growing talent OF the
potters, until they somewhat rcselhhicn
tiny tcapots with u spout in the side
for a wick and hole ~ the top wher"
the oil was poured in. The museums
specimens OF this type OF lamp are
especially remarkable. many haVinS
been sent in from all parts Of Europe
and Asia. displaying the most ancient
craftsmanship and design. hundred
or more such lamps were sometimes re-
quired TO light one room. and although
the people were ingenious enough TO
invent a perfume for the oil. accord
ing to Or. Hough. the place mus; have
smellcd like a butcher shop on fire.
dilapidatcd old lamp containing some
OF this early perfumcd oil is ono OF
the most priced specimens in the
museums collection.
Then came copper and bronze, and
the lamps assumed a new symmetry
and design civilization and me
chanic arts progressed. Pottery lamps
were soon out OF date. and brass and
copper lamps hogan to ornament the
houses aud churches. tackled to the
walls and suspended in chandeliers. II
is DIR. IIough's personal belief that the
famous lamp which Aladdin's mother
gave To the pcddlcr was pottery
lamp, and the new one she received
made OF copper.
The next step in lamp architecture
was iron, and many were the curious
designs wrought in thi; metal. An oc-
casional iron lamp from Italy or Spain
is always being discovered by some en-
plorer for antiques who sends ii to the
museum. Hut all this time. although
and applied to lamps. there was no
Improvement whatever in the mcchan.
ism itself The glass age had super
seeded iron for some time before Ar
Eand discovered tho method OF putting
oil In n small reservoir and forcing 1t
up through wick and then covering
it with a chimney. This. which was
the first real lamp. as We know ii to-
day, made it's appearance about 1854
Following this Invention came the
discovery OF kerosene and gas. and
new fixtures were developed along new
lines. So far, The collection ends will,
the Welsbach burner. which is tic
most recent Improvement for gas i'll