LIGHTING ALTERNATIVES

1. The Scoop on Aladdin lamps We recently visited Rememer Yesterday out in Sebastopol, one of the three stores in the U.S. that carries all the replacement parts for antique Aladdins. There we got the inside story on what is happening with the shortage of these excellent lamps.

For those of you unfamiliar with them, Aladdins are the best kerosene-lamp-oil lamps made, because they have both a round wick and a mantle, burn cleanly, and give out 60 watts of light noiselessly. However they are now virtually impossible to get unless a dealer has a couple left in stock or one buys an antique one. Here is the reason:

Last year the Aladdin Company was reorganized, and the stockholders decided to sell the lamp division to the collectors society, called the Aladdin Knights. To make the sale easier, the company did not renew production contracts, particularly for the bases, which are made in factories around the world. Then y2k sales began to use inventory much faster than anyone had anticipated, and it was impossible to schedule factory runs quickly. At this writing, the first new Aladdins will not be made until September, and will be the more expensive kinds of bases. The glass bases will not be made until next year, 2000.

Prices for both the new lamps, and any replacement parts still currently in stock at Aladdin as of March, will go up at least 10%. If you need spare parts, buy them now at a local hardware store before the prices go up.

For those who want an Aladdin, look in antique stores. Some have been electrified and can be reconverted by screwing in a replacement burner. There are also a few new ones still out there. Please let me know if you find any extras beyond your own needs or those of your family and friends, as many people ask me where to find them, especially the less expensive ones.

2. Why an Aladdin? These lamps are great for task lighting for sewing, reading, and close work. They burn cleanly and quietly. They hold 1 quart and last 12-14 hours. This is expensive in terms of lamp oil, which may be in short supply. These lamps should not be moved when lit due to the heat they put out and the fragility of the mantles. Do not let an Aladdin run dry or the wick will burn up, and be sure to read instructions for them very carefully before you use them the first time. There are a number of tricks to know in lighting and using an Aladdin, and mistakes can be expensive.

3. Good Alternatives For general lighting it may be more economical to buy a flat wick kerosene-lamp-oil type lamp. These give out 10-12 watts, but may burn less cleanly, giving out a smell and smoking up the chimney. All types of lamps can be put in front of a mirror to double your light. These are the lamps to have if you want to carry a lamp with an actual flame. Lamplighter Farms is the kind usually found in hardware and discount stores, but they are cheaply made, especially the burner, and may not stand up to extensive use. Look for older lamps with heavy metal burners of the Queen Anne type, or with brass burners. A good kerosene lamp has a wick that is fully an inch wide, as opposed to the cheap ones which are narrower, and therefore give off less light. In this kind of flat wick light, always keep the wick below the level of the burner top.

Dietz Lanterns are a type of this lamp with a wire guard over the glass chimney, and a metal top, and are especially good for outside use. Old ones are also collectors item, but you should be able to find new ones for less than $20.

Craft stores have recently been selling tiny oil lamps with candle type wicks very inexpensively. These only give out a couple of watts and are fine for small spaces like bathrooms, or as a night light to undress by. They are very cute and people like to give them as presents. They may be a good trade item in the future.

4. Coleman lanterns. Coleman and other camping manufacturers make two types of lanterns, both using a mantle system.

One type uses White Gas which is refined kerosene, and has a pressure pump system. It requires the user to pump up the lamp before use, and the seal on this pump must be good. If you are having trouble, a quick fix is to remove the pump and put oil on the leather seal ring. Stock replacement parts. These lamps are very bright, but the mantles are fragile and the lamps are noisy.

The second type uses propane, usually the one pound unrefillable type. You can buy an adaptor that will fit any larger propane container (like the standard 20 gallon size) at places like Sears and camping stores for about $30. Usually these adaptors have a Y so you can also connect another propane appliance such as a stove to it.

5. Open Flame systems Candles, sterno, and little candle wicked but chimney-less lamps all fall in this category. Open flames are dangerous, especially around kids and animals. If water is in short supply, a fire is even more dangerous. Such flames do not really give off much light, although placing open flames in front of mirrors will help.

6. Flashlights Flashlights are a good option for short-term lighting, especially for kids. Look into rechargable batteries, (Nicads), especially if you live someplace sunny enough to use solar rechargers. Baygen also makes a handcrank-generating flashlight. Nicads, solar rechargers and Baygen flashlights are available from C. Crane Co. at 800-522-8863.

Donna Jones seraphima@aol.com

-- donna jones (seraphima@aol.com), March 20, 1999