BURNING FLUID LAMP BY CAPEN AND MOLINEUX
THESE NEW YORK CITY PEWTERERS WERE PROLIFIC MAKERS OF FLUID LAMPS FROM 1848-1854. THIS 4” H. CYLINDER FONT LAMP IS FITTED WITH A BURNING FLUID BURNER (BURNING FLUID WAS A MIXTURE OF WOOD ALCOHOL AND TURPENTINE) IT HAS A SCROLL HANDLE , IS WELL MARKED AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. REFERENCE FIG. 287 IN AN AMERICAN PEWTER COLLECTION FOR THE SAME LAMP FITTED WITH A WHALE OIL BURNER. BLURNING FLUID WAS MORE VOLATILE AND WAS MORE LIKELY TO CAUSE A FIRE. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHALE OIL WAS LESS LIKELY TO EXPLODE BUT SMELLED AND GAVE POORER LIGHT. BOTH FORMS OF BURNING FLUID WERE USED SIMULTANEOUSLY...