Aladdin Lamps

I have used kerosene lanterns on various occasions and while they work, the light is not the best.  We have had electricity all our lives and are spoiled by good light.  I recently came across an old Aladdin lamp that uses a mantle and wick.  I am in the process of ordering the mantles and getting the lamp cleaned up for use.  New Aladdin lamps are quite expensive.  Mine was built in the 1930 and came from an old railroad caboose.  In researching the lamps, I found the following information.

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“Aladdin lamps were unique in the use of a round wick to provide an even non-flickering flame and a rare earth mantle that glowed to produce the light of a 60 watt light bulb when heated by the flame from the kerosene lamp.  The difference between the light of the Aladdin lamps and any other oil or kerosene lamp was so great that the company offered a one thousand dollar reward to any person who could show them an oil lamp that could equal its light.  The reward was never collected, and by the early 1930s seven million Aladdins had been sold!”

I have been told that you cannot burn liquid paraffin in them without damaging the mantle.  If you have experience with Aladdin lamps, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Howard

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