How do I operate a paraffin lamp?

Fill the reservoir with standard paraffin oil, allowing the wick to saturate fully before lighting. Adjust the thumbwheel to raise the wick slightly above the brass gallery and apply a flame. Control the flame height carefully to prevent smoking and soot build-up on the glass chimney. Extinguish the lamp by turning the wick down until the flame dies out.

Were these converted to electricity?

Many surviving examples retain their original oil mechanisms, burners and collars intact. Some have undergone professional rewiring to function safely as electric table lamps. Buyers should examine the burner area to determine whether internal threading or components remain unaltered. Original unadapted pieces appeal strongly to collectors of lighting history.

How do I date a brass oil lamp?

Examine the style of the base and the patents stamped onto the brass burner thumbscrews. Corinthian columns and heavy cast brass usually point toward the Victorian era, while leaner profiles often indicate Edwardian production. Glass shades and fonts provide further clues through their colours, such as cranberry and opaline, which dominated late nineteenth-century interiors. Maker marks on the metal mechanisms allow for precise chronological placement.

What is a duplex burner?

A duplex burner uses two parallel flat wicks housed under a single wide gallery. This engineering development doubled the surface area of the flame to increase illumination. These burners are operated by two separate control knobs that raise and lower each wick in tandem. They indicate a higher quality lamp intended for main living spaces.