icon for Home page
icon for Kid's Home page
icon for Digital Collection
icon for Activities
icon for Turns Exhibit
icon for In the Classroom
icon for Chronologies
icon for My Collection

Things To Do
Dress Up | 1st Person | African American Map | Now Read This | Magic Lens | In the Round | Tool Videos | Architecture | e-Postcards | Chronologies | Turns Activities

Send an E-Postcard of:
Lamps

front
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.

Camphene oil was invented in the 1820s as a cheaper alternative to whale oil and a cleaner and easier-to-use alternative to lard oil. Also known as "burning oil," camphene was made by mixing freshly distilled turpentine with alcohol. By the late 1850s, whale oil cost $1.50 a gallon, while camphene oil sold for sixty cents. Camphene oil, however, was dangerously explosive. Experts warned against the use of camphene oil in the home. In 1857, Godey's Lady's Book told its readers that it was "suicidal" to use these lamps in the house.

 

top of page

Share this image with a friend.
Simply enter their e-mail address below and we'll send them this image in an e-mail greeting, along with a link to see the image on our site.

To E-Mail Address *
From E-Mail Address *
From Name
Message

* = Required


button for Side by Side Viewingbutton for Glossarybutton for Printing Helpbutton for How to Read Old Documents

 

Home | Online Collection | Things To Do | Turns Exhibit | Classroom | Chronologies | My Collection
About This Site | Site Index | Site Search | Feedback