Many 18th-century lamps used oil to get light. If whale oil was not available, the lamps could use olive oil. The oil was kept in a reservoir, usually metal, that had three or four burners with wicks.

Editor's note: This is story #60 in a Monday through Saturday series on 100 interesting artifacts found at Dover's Woodman Museum, in celebration of its 100th season ...

Q. Enclosed is a photo of a Sandwich glass whale oil lamp. The pattern is "Moon and Stars" and it stands about 9 inches tall and 4 inches at the base. It is clear glass, has been electrified and is in ...

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 of this story. An open fire, candlelight, whale oil lamps, coal and petroleum derived kerosene, and coal or petroleum derived gas. All of these fuels ...

When Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb, the most common lamp was fueled by whale oil. The light bulb took off like a skyrocket and soon the whale oil lamps were nothing but a novelty.

Old oil lamps are igniting renewed interest from collectors seeking decorative accessories that can still, if needed, provide light. The lamps are also collected as examples of early American glass.

In 1850, most homes in the United States were lit by lamps that burned whale oil. As demand rose, supply dwindled--whales became shy and scarce--and prices for whale oil climbed. Then alternative ...

Energy experts predict that the global production of oil will soon start to decline, what’s referred to as peak oil. Now while we may not be there yet, there was a time in our history when we did ...