HOW DOES A KEROSENE LAMP WORK?

A Canadian doctor and geologist named Abraham Gesner patented a distilling method for refining oil in 1854. He called the product kerosene and obtained it by refining the oil from coal. For many years, kerosene lamps were the chief source of artificial lighting in homes and offices.

The kerosene lamp works on a very simple system. Kerosene is placed in a well at the base of the lamp, and extending from this into the upper portion of the lamp is a thick, woven wick. The top part of the wick extends into a tall glass chimney. The lamp glows brightly when the wick is lit. Kerosene is drawn up through the wick so that a constant supply of fuel allows the lamp to burn brightly with a steady flame.