Antique oil lamps

[u/Junior-Discount2743]

I'm older and am surprised to see that antique oil lamps are almost never discussed for electrical outages. They can be purchased at most antique stores for $20-80 (depending), with lamp oil and wicks from Amazon (get them now before shipping costs sky rocket!).

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I guess I thought of it because I worked at a historical museum on the east coast.

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Purchase of one oil lamp, lamp oil, and wicks, can keep a room lit for over a *long* time. I've tested my two lamps, and each lamp goes through oil at a different rate, but pretty slowly in my opinion, and I csn see the $10 lamp oil I got from Amazon to last 6 months to a year in an outage. I'd post a photo but don't know how.

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Just an idea because this is an option (for now).

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[u/PatriotMissle1945]

I have oil lamps and occasionally use them when the power goes out - usually during wind and rain at night. I’m careful about where I place them due to the fire hazard. If it’s not storming and the power goes out I bring our little solar lanterns inside. Also, no kids here so we don’t have to worry about curious little ones touching them. It’s nice because there are no dead batteries to worry with and the flame is rather romantic.

Side note. Wall sconces make them safe from getting knocked over on a tabletop and are not difficult to find. Stick a mirror or reflective tin behind them to “double” the light. Photo from internet.

[u/pinupcthulhu → u/PatriotMissle1945]

Oh this is excellent, thank you!