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Friday, July 19, 2013

Lighting ~ The Old Fashioned Kind

Goodman loves to browse flea markets. I really don't, so when he goes to one he sends pictures to my phone if he sees something he thinks I might want.  Last weekend he sent a picture of the lamp in the far left front for me to consider. I asked him to buy it for me, but he decided to get all of these (for one great price.)

 I love old fashioned oil lamps since they're especially useful when the power is off,  and they look nifty, too.  I won't show all individually, but some are cool, really cool...


This is a vintage whale oil lamp. Heh, that's cool in my book. O.O   I colored regular lamp oil to mimic whale oil since I didn't have any of the real stuff on hand.

 This one, with it's cup-styled handle, is called a finger lamp.

The one with blue oil is a hobnail lamp. I added the blue oil for a bit of color in the room where I intend for it to set. ;)

 Next is a pedestal finger lamp.

This one has a Currier and Ives farm scene on the base.

 Last is the one I asked Goodman to bring home, love the design on the base. It will soon have red oil in it so it will fit in nicely in the living room. Below is a close-up of the base.

Do you use or collect oil lamps? Do you know more about their history than I've shared? Please, tell all if you do!

24 comments:

  1. wow, you've got a bunch of them (at least you do, now!) :)

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  2. You know a whole lot more about lamps that I do, Toni. I am chuckling about Goodman buying all of them. Hope he got a heck of a deal.

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  3. I'm tellin' ya ... Goodman is a keeper! He did good for sure!

    I love all those lamps, especially the whale oil lamp. I have one just like the last one you pictured but the lamp itself is red and the globe has a red tint around the top of it. I'll post a photo of it soon.

    So glad you had a good visit with your sisters. :-)

    Wishing y'all a good weekend!

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  4. Oh, I do have one oil lamp inherited from my great-grandparents but it's so rusty we don't know what to do with it. Even if we try to restore it there isn't any place to buy oil for it these days!

    These ones Goodman bought for you are really pretty. They must look nice in your house in the countryside. :-)

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  5. I have a collection of oil lamps too. You can use them on your outside table with citronella oil in them to keep away the bugs.

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  6. Hi, Toni! The oil lamps are really neat. My favorite is the Courier and Ives.

    Hope you have a great week.

    :)Vicki

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  7. Wow! What a beautiful collection of oil lamps. All of these are really pretty. I love old lamps. This is a fantastic collection. The photos are lovely.

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  8. These are truly beautiful. I have a gorgeous one I inherited from my husband's Great Aunt. I will do a post and show it this week.
    So fun that your hubby likes to antique. I love it but my hubby isn't too keen on it.
    Love to You,
    Danette

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  9. How nice of Goodman to take the time to look for what you might like. We used to have a booth or two in an antique mall-we are still trying to dispose of some of the things we collected for that booth-your lamps are beautiful. How does the whale oil lamp work without a chimney? Or is the chimney just missing. My laptop seems to have recovered. maybe it was just tired and needed a rest.

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  10. How nice of Goodman to take the time to look for what you might like. We used to have a booth or two in an antique mall-we are still trying to dispose of some of the things we collected for that booth-your lamps are beautiful. How does the whale oil lamp work without a chimney? Or is the chimney just missing. My laptop seems to have recovered. maybe it was just tired and needed a rest.

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  11. Hi Elaine! The whale oil lamp, like most really old lamps doesn't have a chimney. They're like the 18th century sparking, betty and aladdin-style lamps with only an open flame, just a step up from a candle. Chimneys diffuse light better so it's a shame it took so long for them to be used on lamps that burned oil.

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  12. What a wonderful collection! They are all so pretty! Yes, I have a few and I use them, especially during storms!

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  13. I think your husband was very considerate and sensitive to your liking them to bring them ALL home to you! :) I LOVE them all and have a lot of old lamps that were handed down to me that are very special! Loved this post!

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  14. I used to collect them too years ago. I love your collection - looks like you found some very pretty ones as well. Ours have become very valuable during power outages too. I'll be tempted to give them away but then remember how much we use them at times...very practical!

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  15. I have about a dozen antique oil lamps that I "early inherited" from my dad. When I remember to clean them, they sparkle from the top of my upright piano. I've got a couple of lamp collector's reference books from the early 90's that he gave me, too.

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  16. We collect lamps too and my pick of the day would be the pedestal finger lamp. I love them all until it's time to dust and then I wonder why I collect so much stuff? Beautiful collection! Be careful or you'll be hooked. Now you need an Aladdin Oil lamp!

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  17. I too love an old oil lamp! I think your collection is beautiful!

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  18. I have a few. What a treat to get so many for the same price! Enjoy!

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  19. We have oil lamps too, even one that stands about 4-5 ft tall that was my grandmother's. We found a wick source and they also have globes if you have a hard to fit one. We have used it to light our living room on several occasions when power was out.

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  20. Old timey hardware stores used to
    carry oil lamps, wicks, and globes.
    Now it is hard to find real old time hardware stores !

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  21. We have such similar taste! I love them all, and I think it is a good thing to be prepared with lamps. Do you keep extra paraffin oil? My favorite is the big one you asked for, but I also love the whale oil lamp...I appreciate the warmth and coziness of your home. The lamps will add to that feel.
    You have a wonderful husband. We are blessed women!! Have a great week, dearie!

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  22. My husband collects oil lamps.
    They are pretty.

    Thanks for sharing at the HomeAcre hop!
    Hope you join us again Thursday!
    Sandra
    http://www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com

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  23. Toni, I was just studying the paintings in your sidebar of the knitters...they are lovely and so whimsical! I wish I was able to knit better...it is tedious for me, but i am persevering on a pair of booties...Hugs!

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  24. Thank you for the kind comment on my site. Like oil lamps and we have a couple. The white one with the horse and farm picture is pretty.

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Thank you for your comments!