Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Lamp, Oil |
Date |
1900ca |
Maker |
Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company, Meriden, CT |
Subjects |
Lamps Capitalism Guides |
Material |
Brass/Nickel/Glass |
Used |
Home of Albert "Ab" Thompson in Cranberry Lake |
Description |
Oil lamp from the house of Albert "Ab" Thompson (1850-1933) and Mary Thompson (1862*-1946) of Cranberry Lake, N.Y., then known as Harwood. The lamp is a Rayo Lamp, a center draft kerosene lamp manufactured by the Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co., in Meriden, Connecticut. The lamp is made of brass and nickel plated. The plating has held up well. Fully intact with base (a), milk glass shade (b), and glass chimney (c). The lamp has "RAYO" impressed in a couple places, on the burner and on the oil/filler cap. Glass chimeny has "EMPIRE / No. 2 / ROCHESTER" etched into it at the top. Likely original to lamp, or at least an accurate replacement. |
Notes |
The RAYO lamp emitted a bright light and would warm up incredibly. After 30-60 minutes, it could purportedly heat a small room. The lamp was known as a fuel-hog, and likely intentionally so. It was first patented November 30, 1894 and made under contract with the Standard Oil Company. The lamp was often given away for free with purchase of something else -- 15 gallons of Standard Oil Kerosene or a cooking stove -- in a ploy to sell more kerosene. The later invention of the Aladdin lamp mantle outperformed the RAYO lamp significantly and led to its decline. |
Dimensions |
H-22 Dia-11 inches |
Collection |
HF110D2 Illumination |
People |
Thompson, Albert Thompson, Mary J. [Cook] |
Search Terms |
Thompson camp Thompson family Thompson, Albert cabins Houses guide guides |
Catalog Number |
2023.064.0001a-c |
Imagefile |
207\20230640001ac.JPG |
Owned by |
Thompson, Albert "Ab" |
Credit line |
Gift of Lynda L. Van House and Robert Hayes in memory of Albert Thompson. |