Use the hot linked ICONS to go directly to these enjoyable and informative Websites! Listings are grouped by type of lighting, with general first, and specific types (Aladdin, Pressure and flat wick lanterns) following.
•Group 1: Here are some Web Sites that cover ANTIQUE LIQUID FUELED LIGHTING in general, many conducted by Guild Members.
Dan Edminster, as a part of his commercial page, has combined his love for lamps with his love for computers, and produced a long list of lighting reference books...the makings of a fine Lighting Library. Dan also includes in the Reference section a Glossary (like our Dictionaries, but some entries even have pictures!) Well worth a visit (the hot link above is direct to the Reference section of his page.) Be sure to check out the "Lamp Information" section, and also the "Other Resources" page, for an excellent (and growing) section on company histories!
David Benson, whose first love is Angle Lamps,
has put together a thoroughly enjoyable Website on Angle Lamps, Store
Lamps and liquid fueled lighting in general. Dave has an excellent
brief history of artificial lighting included in his site.
A sad note: Dave passed away February 2, 2008. Lamp collecting is greatly diminished by this loss.
Also from Lumiere d L'Oeil in Paris, a very special treat!"a full page of FLAMES! for the pleasure of your eyes." Ara's links page is particularly complete. This, and the rest of Ara's site is also posted in French (Flammes) and in German (Flammen)"
The "Lamptrader" site is a virtual museum of long time collector H.H.Dolan's collection (despite the implication of the site name, NONE of these items are for sale). The collection is divided into fuel related categories, and reflects the strength of the collection in early (pre-kerosene) devices. The item descriptions are rather terse, like a book image caption, but frequently have other references cited. These color images (over 500 items) may well contain (and identify!) the item you are looking for!
The Night Light Club has a new (June 2002) web site with club related information and a gallery of both collection images and reproduction information.
The European Gas Flame Association (Association la Flamme Europeenne du Gaz) is a group that studies and collects "city" gas lighting, and gas-fired appliances. A beautiful page, and in English! (I believe the page also exists in French).
"Be-back-later" is a relatively new English language website (based in Holland) featuring interactive discussion forums ("chat rooms") on all sorts of liquid fueled lighting. Anyone can view the forums, but "registration" is required to post.
Chris Sugg has compiled an ever growing page of the history and products of the primary gas lighting and heating company in the UK. He has drawn on the collections and memories of several generations of Suggs involved in the business.
Trevor Emmens of England has prepared an excellent site on the Famos 120 burner, and some of it's progenitors and children. There is much new detailed info here on these well-made and popular burners that never succeeded in taking the market from Aladdin-UK, but easily out-performed the Aladdin. Trevor has designed the site to grow, so if you have additional information, please contact him!
Fuel Names FAQ
Here are ALL your fuel name questions answered in one place! As of March, 2006, Doron Papo from Israel has taken over keeping this material updated.
The Lucerna lamp An Italian silver collector named Georgio has a web site that contains some excellent information and pictures on the Lucerna lamp, and a good general history of VERY early lighting.
German collector Werner Pempel has a website (all in German) with images of his collection of Meissen pottery lamps, and an excellent section (titled "DSR" for "Dochtschusselrader", wick knobs) on wick knobs mostly identified by manufacturer. Heavy going for the non-German speaker, but worth the effort for the photos!
Australian collector and restorer Stuart Driver has an excellent website on the Edward Miller kerosene lamp. He has included lots of pictures of a large variety of kerosene lamp styles, and discussions on restoration and cleaning of kero lamps. Miller was a heavy exporter to the "Down Under" market, so American collectors should not be surprised to see such a collection. This is one of the very first collector sites dedicated to a single maker of lamps (other than Aladdins), and hopefully will be a stimulus to collectors of other brands!
•Group 2: Here are several Web Sites that have a connection to ALADDIN Kerosene
(and Electric) lamps
The Aladdin Knights site contains a compendium of information on Aladdin Lamps on several connected pages, and it is quite easy to navigate through them. Most questions (from a beginner OR a more advanced collector) on Aladdin kerosene and electric lamps can be answered by visiting the appropriate section! There is an amazing amount of information here! One can find the specific answer to likely 95% of Aladdin questions in the Board Archives.
Darrell Kleckner shows lamps from his Aladdin
collection in a series of excellent photos that can be used to identify
specific Aladdin lamp models. The Site also features a good "tips"
section, and his "On the Road Again" section, with reports and photos
of his lamping travels.
•Group 3: Here are some Web Sites covering PRESSURE LIGHTING, again many conducted by Guild Members.
Frank Bebb, the new Webmaster, has posted a new page for the club. It will contain information on the International Coleman Collectors Club, as well as member pages and commercial links. NEW page late June 2002!
US Gasoline Pressure lanterns, etc.
Terry Marsh has posted a photo gallery from his and other collections useful for identifying models and makers of pressure lamps and lanterns, etc. This page is growing rapidly!
Dr. Alan Moore has done an excellent job on pressure lamps and lanterns (Coleman, Tilley, etc.) worldwide. He lists makers and brands from all over the world, and has an Identification inquiry section to try and identify unknown lamps.
Gasoline / Kerosene Pressure Lamps and Lanterns
An excellent page from Shinzo Kono, a Japanese collector. A large selection of images (much Coleman), well documented! He has added an EXCELLENT page on restoration techniques!
Light Bringer
Anders and Per-Hendrik Willman have a site largely devoted to pressure lamps, but also containing a page of useful fuel information.
Continental-Licht
Erik Leger has opened an site featuring the history and products of the Continental-Licht u. AG of Frankfort, Germany, probably the least known of the "big 4" German pressure lamp makers.
•Group 4: Here are some Web Sites covering FLAT WICK KEROSENE LANTERNS. Some of these sites link to commercial pages where globes and other parts can be purchased.
The largest of the flat wick lantern sites is operated by Woodward T. Kirkman. His "Lanternnet" site contains a huge amount of information on Dietz (including a large Patent list for that company). There IS a distinction between the commercial and non-commercial sections. Lantern collectors are in for a real treat.
Key, Lock and Lantern, an Organization for Railroadiana Collectors has a page that contains many sub-pages on US railroad lamps and lanterns. This is THE best source for info if you have one you need identified; heartily endorsed by Lady D, our lantern Queen.
Here's another excellent railroad hobby-specific site with a Q&A page that answers questions on railroad lighting of all kinds. You will occasionally find questions posted on both the Guild page and this site. This Q&A has an excellent Search feature.
This site covers Highway, traffic, municipal, contractor and utility lanterns, and has an excellent Bulletin Board for questions and answers, and links to other lantern sites.
Roger Kessler has posted images of the dead flame, hot and cold blast lanterns in his collection. It's a good, quick way of identifying lanterns! He also links to other lantern related pages.