Romance of Antique Oil Lamps

Attesting to the romantic and practical value of the necessary household item of not long ago, oil lamps new are available for about $15.00 and up.

When it comes to pleasant, quiet, or romantic settings, burning an oil lamp is akin to candles. Back when homes were lit with hanging oil lamps, you would probably never hear anyone calling them romantic. Antique oil lamps and hanging oil lamps are much safer than open flame candles. Antique oil lamps or either a hanging oil lamp, softens shadows and invites the eye. A romantic experience can be ultimately achieved by having a soft flickering flame and can be ruined by the opposite.

Antique oil lamps, a step up from lamps that use kerosene, uses a petroleum based oil. Kerosene lamps are more probable to create more soot and smoke. You do not necessarily need an expensive antique oil lamp, but might want to buy a fragrance oil lamp, which you can fill with scented lamp oil and maybe top with decorative oil lamp shades to enhance the romantic value.

Although you could still use a kerosene lamp, I suggest you be aware of the unpleasant odor and extra soot that a non antique oil lamp will not produce.

Oil lamp shades, the glass that sits on top of your oil lamp, must be cleaned carefully. I have used dry newspaper to clean off soot. Alternatively, for the more serious cleaning you can hand wash with dish detergent, warm water, and rinse with hot water.

Now, just a little info on how you should fill your oil lamp. First, remove the oil lamp shade and chimney. Then unscrew the burner completely and remove. Fill the oil bowl of your favorite antique oil lamp, 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 of the way, but never more than that. Now, place the burner back on the lamp and adjust the wick so that it is right above the top of the burner. When using a new wick, you want to let the wick sit in the lamp for 15 to 30 min to let the wick soak up the oil. Of course, you need to do this before you attempt to light the oil lamp.

After you have prepared your antique oil lamp, light the wick, replace your chimney, and oil lamp shade. If your lamp is smoking, no problem, just adjust the wick. Warning, never lower the wick of your oil lamp below the top of the oil lamp burners while it is burning, if the flame enters inside the oil bowl, it will probably result in an explosion. Which would ultimately ruin any romantic mood that there was.

For emergency lighting, antique oil lamps are the perfect and practical solution. The majority of oil lamps will keep you in light for hours and hours on just one fill, making them very reliable and inexpensive to use.

For the decorator, collector, historian, outdoors man, or the romantic; for parties on your patio and romantic dinners; lighting your path to a secluded cabin on the southern veranda, the practicality and romanticism of antique oil lamps cannot be beat.