ARCHIVED Questions and Answers
Spider Lamp [INDEX: Colonial lighting]
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Spider Lamp by Allen Thomas
Posted: July 13, 1998 @ 23:54.
Posted Tues May 13, 1998 by Fil Graff Allen Thomas wrote:
Fil,
I sent this question on May 2 and did not get an answer. Maybe I just don't know where to look for the answer. I will repeat the question. I am not a member, but do have an interest in old lamps.
What is a Spider Lamp? Can you tell me what a Spider Lamp looks like? I think that a Spout Lamp - (sometimes called a Bucket Lamp) is a Spider Lamp. Is this true? All I know is that Spider Lamps were used around 1760-1820 in America and specifically in some nautical beacon lights at that time.
I am Allen Thomas, but send your response to tatag@worldnet.att.net because I don't have my own E-Mail address. Thank you in advance.
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On July 13, 1998 @ 23:55, Fil Graff
wrote:
Guild Response:
Allen: Sorry about the May 2 question! I don't recall seeing it, and didn't have the QandA Page functioning then anyway!
I don't think I have ever heard the term "spider lamp" (or "bucket lamp" either, for that matter). The period you cite is "colonial" US, so the fuel would have to have been a heavy oil like whale oil, rendered lard (or some other animal fat). A "spout lamp" is also a somewhat vague name, but sounds like it could refer to a "Betty" or Crusie lamp. "Bettys" (suspect the name came as a corruption of "better") were open or covered lamps with the wick holder being an integral part of the outside of the fuel holder...imagine a shallow can like a cat food can with a v-shaped spout pinched into the top rim. This "pinch" would hold the wick material (twisted rag, rope, reed... anything thsat would act as a wick to the thick fatty fuel. As the fuel burned, the pinch would heat up from the flame, and conduct that heat to the rest of the lamp, thus warming the fuel and making it easier to be "wicked". A "crusie" (derived from a Scottish word) uses the same principle, but the wick is supported in a separate holder attached to the inside bottom of the lamp, or its rim.
Maybe one of the VERY early lamp scholars acan identify your "Spider" lamp. To me, the term conjures up the image of a multi-pipe (maybe as many as 8, like a spider's legs?) whale oil lamp with long wick tubes. but that may not be it at all. Language sometimes has logic, but "pet names" for objects frequently don't!LATER NOTE: I asked several "old time" collectors if they had ever heard the names "Spider" or "Bucket" Lamp, and drew a complete blank!
Anybody out there able to answer Allen's question? Note his URL above, and send a copy to: The Webservant for posting here.
Fil Graff, Guild Secretary
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On July 13, 1998 @ 23:57, Anton Kaim & Willemina Venema
wrote:
DATE: Tuesday, May 18, 1998, 19:35
Subject: Re: Questions and Answers: Question 8, Spider Lamp
Anton Kaim & Willemina Venema wrote:
I did find some information about this subject in Peter Cuffley's book "Oil & Kerosene Lamps in Australia" (edition 1996) on page 42,I quote:"...,the 1859 cataloque (Dietz) illustrates the three-chain hanging lamp often referred to by local collectors as a 'spider lamp'. One of these hanging lamps is shown opposite (page 43).It was found in Central Victoria and is a typical mid-nineteenh century lamp with Dietz burner and rare original Dietz-size chimney". I yesterday did send this information to Allen Thomas.
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On July 13, 1998 @ 23:59, Fil graff
wrote:
Guild Comment:Good information!
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On July 13, 1998 @ 23:59, Fil graff
wrote: