Kerosene Lamps

103. Construction of Kerosene Lamps. A kerosene lamp consists of a bowl, a burner, a wick and a chimney.

In the ordinary lamp, the bowl for holding the oil is placed below the burner (Fig. 51). The wick carries the oil from the bowl into the burner by capillary attraction—one end being in the oil and the other in the burner.

The burner, which has holes in it to let in air, holds the wick so that only the oil reaching the top burns. The area and shape of the flame depends upon the form of the top surface of the wick. The glass chimney is used to cause an air current thru the burner and to protect the flame from outside drafts. A screw moves the wick thru the burner. If the wick is too small, the fire may burn back thru the burner and ignite the oil in the bowl. It is important that a wick fit the burner. If the chimney is too short or broken, the lamp will smoke (A, B, Fig. 51).

104. Management of Kerosene Lamps. When the lamp smokes, it is wasting fuel. Smoke is incompletely burnt fuel. The oil in the lamp should be clean. It should never be mixed with gasoline or other more explosive oils.

Fill the bowl each day the lamp is used to within one-half inch of the top. A full bowl helps to make a safe lamp.

Put the chimney on the lamp so that it fits in its holder. Keep it clean and bright. Keep the wick clean and trimmed evenly. See that it entirely fills the opening thru the burner. This prevents the fire from burning back down the burner and igniting the oil in the bowl.

Oil will not pass up a wick which fits too tight. Do not cut a wick to trim it, but keep the charred part scraped or brushed off even with the top of the slit in the burner. A burnt match is useful for this purpose.

105. Lighting a Kerosene Lamp. When lighting a lamp, be sure it is in order and that any openings to the bowl are closed. Lift the chimney, turn the screw to raise the wick about one-eighth inch above the slit. Touch a lighted match to the wick, adjust the chimney, and, lastly, move the wick up or down until it burns clear and bright without smoking. After the burner becomes warm, the flame may grow higher and smoke. Do not leave a newly-lighted lamp unwatched. After the lamp is heated and adjusted, it should burn with a flame of even height.

106. To Extinguish a Lamp. Turn the wick down until it is slightly below the top of the slit. Do not turn too far. It will then go out of itself, or a slight puff of air will extinguish it. This is safer and will smoke the chimney less than attempting to blow out the full flame.

107. Care of Lamps. Keep the inside and outside of bowl and chimney clean. Wipe all soot from the burners. Trim the wick each day the lamp is used. Fill the bowl with oil to within one-half inch of the top. Get new wicks when the old ones become dirty.

108. Kerosene Mantle Lamps. Kerosene mantle lamps (Fig. 52) give three to four times as much light per unit of oil as the ordinary kerosene lamp. Many mantle lamps on the market are unreliable. Care, therefore, should be taken to give the lamp a trial before investing so as to be sure to get a good one.

The care and lighting of mantle lamps differ so much that the directions must be furnished by the manufacturer and should be followed with exactness.