Lamp
a vessel used for the combustion of liquid inflammable bodies, for the purpose of producing artificial light.
The invention of the lamp is ascribed to the Egyptians. In treating of the construction of modern lamps, it is necessary to take into consideration the nature of the flame. In order to insure a constant and steady flame, it is necessary that the supply of combustible mattter be steady and uniform. It must, therefore, be either in a liquid or gaseous state, so that it may approach the flame in an uninterrupted current. The combustible substance may either be made to approach the flame by capillary attraction through wicks, or by mechanical pressure. The invention and introduction of the ARGAND LAMP (q. v.) (1789) made a revolution in illumination.
The introduction of mineral oils as illuminants caused a great variation in the construction of lamps, and a host of patents have been taken out for paraffin or kerosene lamps, some of which equal gas in illuminating power. The central draft-lamp using a round tubular wick that is raised or lowered by a rod operating a spurred wheel is one of the most popular. Lamps are now extensively used for heating and cooking, a double or triple flat wick being employed. In the United States and Europe vapor lamps are employed. In these, which consume the volatile hydrocarbon obtained from the products of the distillation of bituminous coal, the liquid is converted into vapor before it reaches the burner, and burned without the need of a wick.
Some employ mantles. They are therefore distinguished as vapor or self-generating gas lamps. In 1868 a lighthouse lamp for burning mineral oils was introduced, and has been adopted in all parts of the world. These lamps have two or more concentric wicks, and yield used everywhere by miners, was invented a very powerful light. A safety lamp, in 1815. carbon obtained by burning bodies rich