What is the Betty lamp?

Betty lamp is a type of oil burning lamp, which was mainly used by American colonists during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. His name comes from the German word besser , translated to "improve". The lamp was made of a covered, shallow bowl containing an internal discharge that holds the wick. A bowl holds oil or fat used to fuel the lamp. Betty lamps often had chains or hooks to increase the light.

The design of Betty lamp is assumed that it was inspired by a clay bowl used in Europe before the eighteenth century. Betty's first lamps were revealed by iron, tin, copper or bronze bowls that held fish oil or pieces of fat and the wicks were made of a twisted cloth. The uncovered design of the bowl had certain shortcomings that could prevent him from becoming popular. The wicks would absorb more oil than they burned, and the exposed bowl design would cause smoking.

In the early 17th century, the original Betty lamps were redesigned to improve their efficiency. To a bowl bYL added a cover that caught the heat and kept smoke. To increase the efficiency of the oil, the wick holder was included, which directed the oil drops back to the lamp bottom to continue to be used. The new lamp style had a curved handle with a short hook attached to one side of the lamp for hanging, while on the other hand the selection was added as a way to remove the fallen wick from the oil. Thanks to the improvements, Betty Lamp was popular among American colonists.

The first mainstream lamps Betty were made of iron. Around 1800, a specialized tin version called IPSWICH Betty Lamp was produced. It was more pocket than to hang and was attached to the candle stand. Other versions of the lamp were built from bronze or copper.

Betty Lamp was one of the main staples of colonial domestic decoration. Colonists would often build a Wooden lamp stands to increase lamps to light the whole room. Some homeowners used large pieces of iron or wood to subsidize the lamp.

after the middle of the nineteenthIn the 18th century, Betty Lamp began to lose its popularity. Around 1850 it was replaced by more efficient tubular kerosene side lamps. Betty antique lamps are often sold as objects of historical collectors. Betty lamps are still produced with the same design; However, the modern version is full of olive oil, vegetable oil or kerosene and is usually used to decorate rather than function.