Look Who's Arising and Shinging Forth

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

You Asked: All About Oil Lamps

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Hello! This is a "You Asked" Post. I was asked: "My question is about oil lamps. You mentioned your family loves reading by oil lamps. This just sounds so intriguing to me. I would love to know more-- like where do you get oil lamps these days? What kind of fuel do you have to use? What does oil lamplight even look like?"

We started using oil lamps about three years ago and purchased some from our local grocery store. You can see them above. They were quite cheap (about $15), and had oil and wicks for them. We enjoyed these oil lamps, but we needed about four of them to make any difference in a room for light. We quickly found that the oil we used was a smoke-filled burn as well, and the smell was not pleasant. However, at the time it was all we had... and we enjoyed the glow of them.

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We then set our hearts on an Aladdin Lamp (click name for link). Aladdin Lamps use a mantle and burn as bright as a 60 watt light bulb. The oil used (Aladdin Oil) is clean, non-smoking,and does not have a smell!

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Here is a photo looking into our house with our oil lamp lit. It is VERY bright.We would like to have two or three for around our home to use at night. We hope to switch to it eventually.  Our oil lamp we have burns for 12 hours.

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You can see some videos on the Aladdin Lamps below. I purchased ours from Lehmans, deep in Amish country.



So, yes, we love to read by oil lamp each night. We enjoy reading books from Lamplighter. Currently we are reading _The White Knights_. Lamplighter is a Christian book store that reprints books from the 17th, 18th, and early 19th century books that have good morals and values in them. We just LOVE them!

I hope this answered your questions.

Love,
Emily Fay

7 comments:

  1. Very interesting information my husband may be interested in purchasing oil lamps I will pass on this post. Thanks

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  2. Hi!
    I remember seeing those lamps in the catalog. Wow... they really burn brightly!

    We've collected quite a few oil lanterns; the old fashioned wick kind.
    I buy a special oil that is odor-less, and smoke-less.
    Mostly, we use the lamps when the power goes out, and once in a while when we have dinner.
    Love the warm glow.

    Hope you are having a good day, and feeling a bit better.

    love,
    K.

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  3. Hi!

    I love oil lamps! I don't use them as often as I would like, but I think them make a beautiful glow, save on electricity, and just make me feel warm inside! Thanks for the link, my oil is so smelly!

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  4. I love my antique oil lamps,but your Aladdin lamp is beautiful! Merry Christmas Emily.

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  5. I would like to have an Aladdin lamp; they sound ideal. This is my first visit here, and congratulations on the baby you are expecting.

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  6. Thank you for the review of the lamp. We have lots of oil lamps from our living off-grid time. We bought them at kmart and Walmart but we never had the extra money to buy an Aladdin. I did see them recently an Antique store they had about 6 of them.

    Have a blessed day
    Erika

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  7. I love the coziness of oil lamps. My grandparents used to burn them in their old farmhouse. I don't have any, but I've often thought of purchasing one to use just because I think they're so cozy and warm.

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Dear [women around the world], each of you has been born with great potential. You are beloved daughters of Heavenly Father. He knows you and He loves you. He invites you to “arise and shine forth,” and He promises that as you do, He will sustain and bless you. I pray that each of you will find the courage to "Arise and Shine Forth"