From times immemorial, petroleum has been utilized as a lighting agent. Fifteen hundred years ago we have records of its use in the Far Eastern countries, and in the seventh century one of the Emperors of Japan ordered that his temples should be illuminated by the sacred oil light. And from that long distant date to the present times, petroleum has played a not insignificant part in the provision of artificial light throughout the world. For centuries, petroleum, as a means of artificial light, had the field to itself, and, though the Ancients consumed large quantities for lighting purposes, the apparatus used for burning the oil were of a most primitive type, giving results which to-day would be considered far from satisfactory.

About the middle of the last century, when the petroleum industry was making steady advance in several European countries, and a little later, when the United States entered upon its era of oil progress, there was marked development in the use of oil for lighting purposes. The more modern oil lamp was introduced, and it is worthy of record that in one year alone over fifty patents were taken out in the United States for oil lamp improvements. The Germans, too, were not behind in this respect; in fact, it is very largely due to the numerous German improvements that the general governing principles of present-day oil lamps became so popular.

There is no doubt that the ordinary oil lamp has often been, and still is, unjustifiably condemned for certain defects which are not inherent in it. It necessarily demands attention if it is to give a satisfactory light, but, unfortunately, this attention is not adequately bestowed upon it, and complaints are the result. I have frequently argued that, just as it is possible with inattention to make the most improved pattern of oil lamp operate unsatisfactorily, so is it possible, with a little care and common sense, to get a really good and satisfactory light from the cheapest oil lamp obtainable.

In days gone by, the quality of the oil was, in many cases, unsuitable for burning in the ordinary lamps; its lighting power was very inferior, and it gave off a distinctly unpleasant smell. To-day, however, the illuminating oil sold throughout the world is a first-class article, and its flash-point has been so raised that it can be used freely without there being any suggestion of its lack of safety. One still hears of the “dangerous” paraffin lamp, but, to all intents and purposes, whatever danger was attendant upon the use of oil lamps has long ago departed, though, of course, care must always be exercised, a remark which naturally applies to every illuminant. It is not within my province to give a series of hints to the ordinary user of illuminating oil, but it is well to draw attention to a point which is frequently overlooked: that is, to see that lamps should be kept well filled. It has been established that the light from an oil lamp is greatly affected by the quantity of oil in the reservoir. An increase of 20 per cent. can be secured in the illuminating power of the lamp if only the oil is kept to a good level in the container. This is due to the assistance given to the capillary action of the wick by the higher level.

The advent of gas, and, at a later period, electric current, for illuminating purposes has, to an extent, restricted the use of oil as an illuminant, yet the reader will be surprised to learn that at least 2,000,000 oil lamps are nightly lighted throughout Great Britain. The inhabitants of the majority of our villages have to fall back upon oil lamps after nightfall, and even in remote spots where enterprising gas companies have laid gas mains large numbers still keep faith with oil, no doubt by reason of its cheapness in normal times.

The greatest improvement made in regard to oil lighting has been in connection with the introduction of the incandescent mantle. As a result of this innovation, several elaborate designs of lamps have been placed on the market, and to-day oil is frequently used in large residences in preference to the more modern illuminants. This is due, without doubt, to the fact that oil light is particularly soft, and, while giving a great illuminating power when consumed under the best conditions, lacks that dazzling brilliancy which causes injury to the eyes.

One of the earliest methods of utilizing petroleum under an incandescent mantle was the Kitson system, according to which illuminating oil is compressed to about 50 lb. per square inch in a suitable vessel, forced through a soft brass tube of very small bore into a heating chamber, and, subsequently, through a needle orifice to a Bunsen burner. The Kitson system, which has found many adherents in the United Kingdom and abroad, is particularly adapted for lighthouse illumination, and in such cases where large units are essential. It is interesting to record the fact that for some time one of London’s main West-end thoroughfares was illuminated by incandescent oil lamps, and, though they are now superseded, no tangible reason was given as to why these highly economical means of illumination were ever removed.

Space forbids my referring to the various designs of oil lamps on the English market to-day: they may be counted by their hundreds, while still a larger number of those which have either been unsuccessful or have found no sale may be found in the records of the Patent Office.

During comparatively recent times, devices have been brought forward whereby remarkably good results have been achieved by the use of gaseous vapour for portable lamps. In these cases, motor spirit is vapourized and used under an incandescent mantle. The best known of these lamps is the “Petrolite.” In this lamp, a porous stone is impregnated with suitable hydrocarbons—motor spirit—and a current of air is introduced, the necessary draught being provided by the use of a fairly long chimney. The great advantage of the “Petrolite” lamp is that of its perfect safety, for if by any chance the lamp becomes overturned and the chimney displaced or broken, the draught ceases, and with it, the generation of the inflammable vapour; the lamp, therefore, immediately going out.

But while this method of utilizing motor spirit for illuminating purposes has been adopted to a very large extent by means of portable lamps, a greater field has been developed both in this and other countries in connection with the domestic and industrial use of petrol air-gas for lighting purposes. These apparatus in the main possess but slight differences. The essential principle of each is that motor spirit is carburetted and then, in the form of an oil gas, conducted through pipes in the same manner as coal gas is burned, to the rooms in which it is required. The carburetted air-gas is automatically produced, and the small cost at which these automatic plants can be supplied has rendered this system of lighting deservedly popular. Its great economy also is an important point, for 1 gallon of motor spirit will yield almost 30 cubic feet of vapour. This vapour, in order to form a lighting agent, is mixed to the extent of over 98 per cent. air and less than 2 per cent. petrol vapour, so that 1 gallon of motor spirit will produce, approximately, 1,500 cubic feet of air-gas. The plants, which are usually worked by a small hot-air engine (or, alternately, by the use of weights), supply only the demand created, and their control is automatic perfection.

To-day, petroleum plays quite an important part in heating arrangements, and several stoves are upon the market which burn the ordinary illuminating oil. The prettily designed heating stoves of the “Perfection” or “Reform” make are largely in use, the efficacy and economy of these being responsible for their popularity. Various makes of oil cookers are also in large demand. These range from the small variety like the “Primus” stove, which burns illuminating oil under pressure, to the oil cooking stoves of the Anglo-American Oil Company, Ltd., which are quite competent to meet the requirements of practically any household. These latter stoves consume illuminating oil by means of the circular wick arrangement, and are in several sizes, one of the best being that containing three lighters. Two of these are under the oven, and one at the end can be used for boiling purposes. Speaking from several years’ experience of these stoves, I can say that they are truly perfection. They are very economical, are easily cleaned, and when in full operation give off not the slightest odour. The oven is more readily heated than with the coal gas apparatus, and the properly diffused heat cooks all kinds of food most readily and perfectly. The illustration of the stove given on the preceding page will afford the reader a good idea of the apparatus, which deserves to be even more popular than it is at present.