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Aladdin Kerosene Mantle Lamp

Ranked #3,583 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #40,979 overall

The Warm Glow of the Aladdin Mantle Lamp

Many of you have always heard about Aladdin Lamps, but maybe not the kind I will present here. Although the name of the company, Aladdin, which was inspired by the famous story 'The Wonderful Lamp" around 1909 by the founder, the kind of lamp here is not the kind you'd rub and a genie pops out. The founder of Aladdin Mantle Lamp was concerned about quality lighting in a world of just flat wick lamps and natural gas.

The mainstay lighting choice of rural mid west farmers before electrification of the 30's & 40's, this Aladdin kerosene lamp with it's tall chimney, outshone any of it's day, with quiet, odorless, close to 60 watt output, it was easier on the eyes and could run for 6 to 8 hours without re-filling.

The lamps were not only functional, but with the many glass and metal designs they were aesthetically pleasing as well. Most older lamps were originally sold with paper shades, the many glass shades we see these days are aftermarket shades. .

We still have them around today as constant reminders of earlier technology and and the beauty of the period. Although not essential as they were 60 years ago, some of us decorate our homes with them and can use them when the power goes out even if it is just for a little while.

2003 model Short Lincoln Drape

Brief History of Aladdin

Aladdin Lamps Light the way

Victor Samuel Johnson born in 1882 grew up in a sod farmhouse in Nebraska. Early school lessons were by the flame of a common kerosene lamp. In 1905 he recognized the value and quality of light being produced with a mantle. Early models of these "mantle lamps" produced about 60 watt output when properly adjusted. called at the time the "Argand" burner, it was the brightest light to be ever produced from kerosene.

Through different steps and companies, Johnson incorporated the "Mantle Lamp Company of America" in 1908. The Mantle Lamp Company acquired the Lippincott Glass Co. in 1926 near Alexandria, Indiana where the market for kerosene lamps and glass was growing. An estimated 6 million midwest homes at the time depended on kerosene or gas for lighting.

B-40 Round Foot Washington Drape-1939

The Lamp Base Metal or Glass

Aladdin Lamp "Side Draft Burner"

The early days about 1909-1932, all the lamp founts, (base) were metal and because of the design, the burners were what they called "center draft" burners. The air had to travel up from the base of the lamp through the center of the fount to make the flame and the heat so the mantle could produce the light.

With the introduction of the "side draft" burner (as pictured here) the air did not need to come up through the center of the base and fount anymore, The base could now be made of glass, which at the time was much cheaper, raw material wise, along with the natural gas to fire the furnaces.

With the abundance of cheap natural gas in Indiana, glass companies sprung up in the state and the colorful glass era in America had begun.

B-81 Green Beehive-1938
B-100 Clear Corinthian-1935

The Amazing Aladdin Burner

The Gallery Holds the Mantle

Aladdin started using the model "B" burner in 1933 after about 11-12 models, It was the most successful and efficient of all the previous burners. The trials and testing had finally come together in this burner which was used then on until 1953.

The mantle is the heart of the lamp, which is made out of a couple of rare earth oxides (thoria and ceria), my spell checker didn't even identify these. Aladdin mantles are made through a special process that I won't go into here. The mantle (not pictured here) is held by the Gallery which is the upper part with all the holes. Aladdin's model "B" burner uses a precise mixture of air, 94%, and kerosene vapor, 6%, that mixes the exact proportion of air and fuel for a very EFFICIENT and CLEAN burn.

The light does not come from a yellow flame but rather an efficient blue flame producing heat, and it is this heat that causes the mantle to incandesce. The result is an sootless and odorless combustion and a very bright nearly 60 watt pure white light.

Install a mantle and a wick onto this 70 year old burner, add fuel, and it will burn as good as it did the day it came out of the box.

Aladdin, Easy Bright Emergency Lighting

Dependable Lighting the Neighbors Will Envy

The efficient Aladdin B burner and it's newer version, the model 23 are marvels of kerosene fueled incandescent lamps, which makes them a great choice for emergency standby lighting. In this age of being prepared for minor or major disasters, these lamps will compliment any plan that one puts in place to have adequate lighting.

The best part is, you don't have to have an unusual or excessive amounts of fuel stored, they run on kerosene and or lamp oil, and are quiet, clean, and safe. I live in So. California and we have never had one of these fall over in an earthquake, they are very stable that way with the large base that they have. They also can provide a small room with about a 2500 - 2900 BTU emergency heat output.

With a couple of these lamps you won't be caught in the dark again.

Newer Short Lincoln Drapes L to R with model 23 burners:
2003 Ruby Red
2004 limited ed. Vaseline, (with uranium oxide)
1999 deep emerald green

Lighting, Only One Part Of Emergency Prepardness

The best food Items needed in a crisis

If you could not get any more food today, will the food you have on hand allow you and your family to eat for a week? maybe longer?

Whether a short power outage, natural disaster, or an all out prolonged supply system collapse where the grocery store shelves empty in a matter few short hours, what you have on hand may be your only food supply. What are the best food items to have on hand in a disaster? Everyday items that you can get NOW, before the crisis.
Survive A Sold Out Food Crisis
Hurricane, Flood, Earthquake, Fire, Civil Unrest, the 37 best food items needed in a disaster

The Fun Part, Light The Lamp!

My first attraction to Aladdins was all the great designs and colors. Just washing the sometimes dirty old glass part (fount) brought out the color as with any old and colorful piece of glass. With some cleaning and polishing on the burner, these old lamps still work like they were originally designed to.

Not only beautiful as room decor or having something old, they come in handy if the power goes out at night. I always have at least one ready to go when needed. Sometimes, we just turn the house lights down and enjoy the soothing light that it produces. They have a very nice warm glow.

In the cooler times of the year the lamp can even take the chill off a cool room as they can produce about 2900 BTU per hour, they do get warm, but the best part about them, they're quiet and no pumping, they do not operate under pressure.

B-75 Tall Lincoln Drape 1940-1949

AHHH.....The Many Colors of Glass

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Other Aladdin Sites

Aladdin Collector
Great site with wonderful color photos of most if not all of the kerosene Aladdins....Also, don't miss under "Vertiques" / "See the Glow". The use of uranium oxide in glass is pretty cool.
Aladdin Knights Members Site
Lots of great info here, and you don't have to be a member, but if you are interested, go to the "Mystic Light Newsletter" portion, for information on how to join the Aladdin Knights.
Aladdin Mantle Lamp Company Home Page
The Official Site just redone, Great new look!

Aladdin Stuff on Amazon

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Like Old Glass, Lamps? Let Me Know of Your Interest.

  • poddys Mar 18, 2012 @ 3:23 pm | delete
    It's such a shame that a lot of these lamps have been thrown out over the years. They are very handy at times when there is no electricity, as well as being pleasing to look at.
  • brumot Mar 20, 2012 @ 10:04 pm | delete
    Thanks for stopping by, good to hear from you. Most of these are probably in collector hands, I have about a dozen or so with a couple always ready to go if the power goes out.
  • nicehoe2 Nov 23, 2011 @ 9:09 pm | delete
    Definitely a practical gift item and quite the assortment!
    black cardigan
  • PopArtGirl Sep 12, 2011 @ 5:20 pm | delete
    Such gorgeous lamps - great lens!
  • jackiebolen Feb 27, 2011 @ 12:34 am | delete
    Some cool lamps!
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brumot

Just a middle aged guy that enjoys Aladdin Mantle Kerosene lamps and colorful glass, woodworking, sports, esp. baseball / football and computer stuff.... more »

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