lamps-msg - 1/14/08
Medieval lamps and lamps for SCA use.
NOTE: See also these files: lighting-msg, candles-msg, candlesticks-msg, flt-wick-lmps-art, firestarting-msg, Med-Lighting-lnks, p-petroleum-msg.
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From: bear at thebox (Walt Wilson)
Date: 5 Apr 91 21:12:33 GMT
00mjstum at bsu-ucs.uucp (Matthew J. Stum) writes:
> Portable outdoor lighting is the subject...
>
> What was the "medieval" equivelent to a flashlight? Were torches used?
> If so, does anyone have any good "recipes" for making long-lasting
> (dripless) torches?
> --
> . / | Matt Stum
> . . / | 00MJSTUM at BSUVAX1.BITNET
> |/-\/-\ |/-\ |/-\ / |/-\ |/-\/-\ | 00MJSTUM at bsu-ucs.bsu.edu
> | / / | / | / \__/ | / | / / |
> | | | | Ball State University, Muncie IN USA
> | | |/\/ | VAX Systems Programmer
A spanking good pitch torch, I would imagine, or if inside, a large-wick
candle in a polished semi-protective holder. The torch might make you very
unpopular and the candle has a nasty habit of dribbling hot wax. This is
one of the places where anachronism can be invoked for safety. Use the
flashlight or (with a grin) place a LUME STICK in your candle holder.
Bjorn
From: trifid at agora.rain.com (Roadster Racewerks)
Date: 8 Apr 91 22:34:34 GMT
Organization: Open Communications Forum
Despite having previously generated more heat than light on this subject :-) I
do actually know something about it. Good indoor candle lighting (well, in-camp)
can be made of polished metal. The piece behind the candle should be highly
polished (yes, the reflective surface does actually help) and bent so as to
somewhat focus the light (study up on your Greek mathematicians, gentles!). It
should have a reservoir for dripping wax, as wax is not only messy (and hot!)
it was precious in period, not to be wasted! (Also, after the wax becomes fluid,
if you have a proper wick it will burn in that state, saving the unmelt candle.)
A shield of this sort also helps protect the flame against drafts. I believe the
Italians, at least, may have also used lenses to magnify the light, but such a
device reduced to personal size (I think it was used in faroes...) would have
been rare and quite expensive. (In period I *think* these may have been used on
board ships.) Do not use puny wicks that cannot hold together long enough to
burn the melted wax, but instead drown in it... I am told "hurricane" lamps are
post-period, though it seems hard to believe the simple idea of a glass shield
would have been unknown. (Perhaps only rare and fragile?) Anyone know of
documentation on this subject?
Pitch torches and rushlights strike me as possibly dangerous among a populace
who haven't grown up around them, or seen relatives die horrid, lingering deaths
from (per-antibiotics) burns. I wouldn't want to be camped within a stadia of an
inebriate with a torch! And I've never seen a rushlight-holder in the Society.
Elaine, perpetually in the dark, NicMaoilan
trifid at agora.rain.com
From: DRS at UNCVX1.BITNET ("Dennis R. Sherman")
Date: 14 Apr 91 15:22:00 GMT
Someone suggested that hurricane lamps are such a simple concept they must
have been used in period. Sorry, probably not so. I can find no evidence
for a glass chimney in use prior to 1600 (or even 1650). Candles used
outdoors must have either flickered and gone out a lot, or must have been
in a candle lantern. Candle lanterns were made of pierced metal (tin or
steel) or of a metal (wrought iron, gold, silver, bronze, latten) or wood
frame, with openings of glass or horn. There are extant candle lanterns
that are decorated with cabochons of crystal that apparrently allow the
light to pass through them. A bulls-eye type lantern was used in period.
A possible source of a candle-like light is a float lamp - a vessel
partially filled with water, oil floating on the water, and a wick floating
(and burning) on that. There are extant float lamps and illustrations of
float lamps in use outdoors. Some of these are glass, and could have been
left sufficiently empty of fluids that the wick would have been below the
top edge of the vessel, thus shielding it from wind. Float lamps typically
were hung, although some were apparently carved out of the tops of stones
in garden walls. These last obviously weren't transparent :-).
My guess (note - _guess_!) is that glass forming technology was up to
making more-or-less conical vessels (which could be used as float lamps),
but not up to making a cylinder open at both ends for a hurricane-lamp type
chimney.
Robyyan Torr d'Elandris Dennis R. Sherman
Kapellenberg, Windmaster's Hill Chapel Hill, NC
Atlantia drs at uncvx1.bitnet
From: sbloch at euler.ucsd.edu (Steve Bloch)
Date: 16 Apr 91 16:36:23 GMT
DRS at UNCVX1.BITNET ("Dennis R. Sherman" (Robyyan Torr d'Elandris)) writes:
>My guess (note - _guess_!) is that glass forming technology was up to
>making more-or-less conical vessels (which could be used as float lamps),
>but not up to making a cylinder open at both ends for a hurricane-lamp type
>chimney.
The way you make a cylinder open at both ends is to make a "less"
conical vessel, scratch it with something really hard and sharp all
the way around near the closed end, apply a little delta-t to crack
the joint (but not enough to remelt the glass), and tap the closed
end, which (with practice :-) obligingly falls off. This is not
complicated. If need be, you can do without the delta-t, at a some-
what lower success rate.
What I suspect period glass forming technology wasn't up to making is
large pieces of glass that both were thin enough to be transparent and
wouldn't crack under the temperature changes to which a lantern
chimney is subject. Small "windows" in the side of a candle lantern
should be no problem, nor would a heavy bowl or goblet (which,
however, would suffer in transmitivity) suitable for a float lamp.
Stephen Bloch
Joshua ibn-Eleazar ha-Shalib
>sca>Caid>Calafia>St.Artemas
sbloch at math.ucsd.edu
From: Bonnie_Dunn.CSUMAIL at qmbridge.calstate.EDU (Bonnie Dunn)
Date: 14 May 91 12:27:23 GMT
Subject: Time:8:14 AM
OFFICE MEMO Period Flashlights Date:5/14/91
Greetings unto the gentles of the Rialto and to the lady who brought up the
topic of period flashlights.
I have a similar eye condition and a recently recovered back/neck injury. I
have no wish to trip over *anything* in the dark.
I believe I found a safe compromise in an 8 hour candle lantern sold through
REI Outdoor Gear catalog. Considering I was approached by *many* people at my
last SCA camping event for the source of my light, I am assuming that they were
not offensive, albiet, not 'period'.
The REI catalog just came so I can provide the information to anyone who might
be interested:
"REI Candle Lantern. Provides light and heat up to 8 hours per candle - no
drips, noise or batteries. Measures only 4-l/2" x 2" when closed, opens to
10". Spring load system keeps candle at consistent height. Glass globe. Av.
wt. 7.5 oz.
E-410-120 Aluminum $13.75
E-410-140 Brass $18.75
Package of 3 candles:
E-410-128 $1.90
Cloth case
E-410-125 $2.50
Lantern Reflector (snaps onto lantern to reflect light)
E-410-139 $3.00
1-800-426-4840 to Order." (Disclaimer: I benefit in no way by providing this
information.)
Since I shall be at Pennsic this year, you may spot this lantern after dark.
Meghan McMahon
aka Brid ui Con na Mara
Gyldenholt, Caid
AAADUNN at CALSTATE
Subj: illumination, i.e. light
Date: 16 Jun 92
From: SHERMAN%TRLN.DECnet at uncvx1.acs.unc.EDU ("Dennis R. Sherman")
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Greetings to the Rialto from Robyyan.
I just saw a posting today that quoted a posting requesting
information about lighting. Either I missed the original posting, or
it will come in tomorrow's Digests. In any case...
I've been researching domestic lighting for quite some time now - I'm
intending to do a Compleat Anachronist issue on it, but I'm _way_
beyond the deadline I'd set for myself. Too much data, along with
other obligations. In any case, I'll gladly answer specific questions
if I can (email certain to get a response, I may miss postings), and
included below is a bibliography for those interested in doing their
own research.
Allemagne, Henry Rene d' ;
Histoire du luminaire depuis l'epoque romaine jusqu'au XIXe siecle ;
Paris : A Picard 1891.
Benesch, Ladislaus Edler von. ;
Das Beleuchtungswesen vom Mittelalter bis zur Mitte des XIX
Jahrhundert ;
: .
Benesch, Ladislaus Edler von., tr. Leroy Thwing ;
Old lamps of central Europe and other lighting devices ;
: C E Tuttle Co 1963.
Heintschel, Hella & Maria Dawid ;
Lampen, Leuchter, Laternen seit der Antike ;
Innsbruck : Pinguin Verlag 1975.
Cooke, Lawrence S, ed. ;
Lighting in America from Colonial Rushlights to Victorian
Chandeliers ;
New York : Main Street/Universe Books 1975.
Corporation of London, ed. Henry Thomas Riley ;
Memorials of London and London Life, in the XIIth, XIVth, and XVth
centuries. ;
London : Longmans Green and Co 1868.
Cristiani, Richard S. ;
A technical treatise on soap and candles; with a glance at the
industry
of fats and oils ;
Philadelphia : H C Baird 1881.
Daw, Robert H ;
By candlelight: candleholders and related lighting fixtures from
ca. 1200 BC through the nineteenth century ;
Topeka, KA : Topeka public library 1973.
Dummelow, John ;
The Wax Chandlers of London; a short history of the Worshipful
Company of Wax Chandlers ;
Chichester : Phillimore 1973.
Falke, Otto von ;
Romanische Leuchter und Gefasse: Giessgefasse der Gotik ;
Berlin ? : Verlag fur Kunstwissenschaft 1983.
Gould, George Glen, and Mrs Florence Gould ;
Period lighting fixtures ;
New York : Dodd Mead & Company 1928.
Hayward, Arthur H. ;
Colonial and Early American Lighting ;
New York : Dover Publications Inc 1962.
Hebard, Helen Brigham ;
Early Lighting in New England ;
Rutland, VT : Charles E Tuttle Company 1964.
Hedemann Baagoe, J. ;
Lamper og lysestager; belysningen gennem tiderne ;
: .
Homburger, Otto Sigmund ;
Der Trivulzio-Kandelaber; ein Meisterwerk fruhgotischer Plastik ;
: Verlag 1949.
Wheeler, Sir Mortimer ;
Pompeii and Herculaneum ;
London : Spring Books 1966.
Cockayne, Rev. Thomas Oswald, tr. and ed. ;
Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England, being a
collection of documents, for the most part never before ... ;
London : Longman Green Longman &c 1865.
Luckiesh, Matthew ;
Torch of civilization; the story of man's conquest of darkness ;
New York : G P Putnam's Sons 1940.
Mariacher, Giovanni ;
Illuminazione in Italia dal Quattrocento al'Ottocento ;
Milano : A Vallardi 1965.
Michaelis, Ronald F. ;
Old domestic base-metal candlesticks from the 13th to 19th century ;
Woodbridge, Eng : Antique Collectors' Club 1978.
Monier-Williams, M.F., ed. ;
Records of the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers ;
London : Cheswick Press 1897.
Monier-Williams, Randall ;
The Tallow Chandlers of London, vol 1-4 ;
London : Kaye & Ward 1970-77.
Norton, C A Quincy ;
Catalogue of the Norton collection of antique historical lamps ;
New York : S L Parsons & Co Inc 1914.
O'Dea, W.T. ;
Lighting: Early oil lamps, candles ;
London : Her Majesty's Stationery Offic 1966.
O'Dea, William T ;
The social history of lighting ;
London : Routledge and Paul Ltd 1958.
Penzel, Frederick ;
Theatre lighting before electricity ;
Middletown, CT : Wesleyan University Press 1978.
Robins, Frederick William ;
The story of the Lamp (and the candle) ;
London, New York : Oxford University Press 1939.
Schneider-Flagmeyer, Michael ;
Der mittelalterliche Osterleuchter in Suditalien : ein Beitrag zu
... ;
New York : P Lang 1986.
Stanislaus, Ignatius Valerius Stanley ;
American Soap Maker's Guide; an up to date treatise on the art and
science of the manufacture of soaps, candles, and ... ;
New York : Henry Carey Baird & Co Inc 1928.
Taylor, Richard ;
Beeswax molding and candle making: a guide to the refinement and use
of beeswax in candle making, completely illustrated. ;
Naples, NY : Walnut Press 1974?.
The Rushlight Club ;
Early Lighting, A Pictorial Guide ;
Hartford, CT : Finlay Brothers Inc 1979.
Thwing, Leroy ;
Flickering Flames; A History of Domestic Lighting through the Ages ;
Rutland, VT : Charles E Tuttle Company 1958.
Wells, Stanley ;
Period Lighting ;
London : Pelham Books Ltd 1975.
Chisholm, K Lomneth ;
The Candlemaker's Primer ;
New York : E P Dutton & Co Inc 1973.
Wechssler-Kummel, S, Marie-Claire Thiebaud, tr. ;
Chandeliers Lampes et Appliques de Style ;
Fribourg : Office du Livre 1963.
*--------------------------------------------------------------------*
* Robyyan Torr d'Elandris Kapellenberg, Windmaster's Hill Atlantia *
*--------------------------------------------------------------------*
* Dennis R. Sherman Triangle Research Libraries Network *
* dennis_sherman at unc.edu Univ. of North Carolina - Chapel Hill *
*--------------------------------------------------------------------*
From: nusbache at epas.utoronto.ca (Aryk Nusbacher)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Pennsic lighting (was: Pennsic tips)
Date: 14 May 1994 21:10:26 GMT
Organization: EPAS Computing Facility, University of Toronto
In article <mjc.768776026 at NL.CS.CMU.EDU>,
Monica Cellio <mjc+ at cs.cmu.edu> wrote:
>Can anyone offer suggestions for safe, effective, non-annoying ways of
>providing substantial amounts of light for those of us who have vision
>problems?
Ever try oil lamps? I have a very clever ceramic oil lamp that is
essentially a flask with a pierced stopper through which a wick is
strung. Yet simpler ones can be made by making a pinch pot, and
folding two sides inward like two folds on a tricorne hat. The corner
made by the two folded sides holds a wick, and the bottom is filled
with oil. Reed lamps can also be made pretty simply, though they are
a bit more complicated than a simple clay lamp.
Aryk Nusbacher
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
From: KGORMAN at ARTSPAS.watstar.uwaterloo.ca
Subject: Re: Pennsic lighting (was: Pennsic tips)
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 16 May 1994 14:49:45 GMT
In article <2r3eo2$969 at alpha.epas.utoronto.ca> nusbache at epas.utoronto.ca (Aryk Nusbacher) writes:
>Ever try oil lamps? I have a very clever ceramic oil lamp that is
>essentially a flask with a pierced stopper through which a wick is
>strung. Yet simpler ones can be made by making a pinch pot, and
>folding two sides inward like two folds on a tricorne hat. The corner
>made by the two folded sides holds a wick, and the bottom is filled
>with oil. Reed lamps can also be made pretty simply, though they are
>a bit more complicated than a simple clay lamp.
Having used oil lamps in non-SCA contexts I would consider them a danger at
War especially when moving and especially if children are involved. If an
oil lamp is knocked over the oil escapes leaving flamable stuff everywhere
for the next person who strikes a match. If the lamp is lit when it is
knocked over you have an instant fire. Walking down a Pennsic road you
could easily trip, be knocked by someone, or catch a branch on the side.
Kathleen/Eyrny
From: chanu1lb at ink.ORG (Chanute Public Library)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Pennsic lighting
Date: 13 May 1994 14:17:35 -0400
Ellisif wanted improvements on using flashlights and flourescent lights
for lighting.
I had this idea several years ago and have been unable to find parts, or
interest anyone in manufacturing.
Small (6 inch) flourescent bulbs are available and I think a candle
lantern could be made to fit. Use opaque (or almost opaque) plastic
instead of glass sheets to diffuse the light and add to safety. Presto, a