Object Details
Description (Brief)
This is a copper oil-wick cap lamp made by J&A McDougall of Pittston, Pennsylvania likely in the latter half of the 20th century. The oil-wick cap lamp was first invented in Scotland in 1850 and in use until the 1920’s. The font contained a mix of fat and oil for fuel, and a wick was inserted into the spout. The resulting flame was much brighter and more efficient than the candles it replaced. The hook enabled the lamp to be worn on a cap, or hooked onto any other suitable location.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
ID Number
AG.059073
catalog number
059073
accession number
014851
Object Name
mining lamp
Measurements
overall: 4 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in; 11.43 cm x 11.43 cm x 8.89 cm
place made
United States: Pennsylvania
Related Publication
Dewey, Frederic P.. Bulletin of the United States National Museum No. 42: A Preliminary Descriptive Catalogue of the Systematic Collections in Economic Geology and Metallurgy in the United States National Museum
See more items in
Work and Industry: Mining
Mining Lamps
Work
Industry & Manufacturing
Natural Resources
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nmah_872086