From a simple hanging lantern suitable for use in a barn to an elegant blown glass table lamp, whale oil illuminated the homes and businesses of America from the 18th century well past the time of the discovery of petroleum in Pennsylvania in 1859.

Emerging industrial societies used whale oil in oil lamps and to make soap. In the 20th century it was made into margarine. There is a misconception that commercial development of the petroleum industry and vegetable oils saved whales from extinction. [2]

Oil or burning fluid lamps provided light on cloudy days or after the sun went down.

Whale oil was important as a fuel for lamps during the nineteenth century. It was used in homes, for street lighting, in lighthouse beacons, and even for locomotive headlights. The great demand for whale oil helped create the giant whaling industry i

Before petroleum-derived lamp oils like kerosene became readily available in the 1860s, people lit their homes with energy derived from seed or animal fats. Among these options, whale oil – especially that taken from sperm whales – produced a clean, bright flame with no smell.

Today most tin whale oil lamps are found with a dark patina from years of use and the wearing away of the bright finish. Also, it is common to find items made of tin with old black paint, toleware painted finishes, or japanned painted finishes.

A glass whale oil lamp featuring a waffle pattern, original stainless steel collar and burner. Whale oil lamps can be identified by the two short tubes required for b …

Spherical deep blue font with tin double wick whale oil burner, applied colorless funnel- foot curved up to form a saucer base; rough pontil mark inside foot. Provenance

Whale-oil lamp, 1830-1840 Decorative glass lamps were almost unknown in England during the first half of the 19th century and were considered an American innovation. The pear-shaped font of this lamp was closed at the top with a cork burner.

2009年3月26日 · Taller whale-oil lamps began to be made as a result of this invention, which enabled whale oil to produce sufficient illumination to justify its use in the more important lamps of the table type. The first of these were made of tin and are known as pedestal lamps.