A rare pair of French, Canton porcelain mounted, gilt bronze ‘moderator’ lamps, c 1850.
Invented in 1837, running on whale or colza oil, with double piston integral clockwork pumps and original wick raisers , keys and burners, never drilled or wired for electricity. The pumps pushed two pistons into the cisterns, to raise the low ignition fuel, to a circular wick, without shadow. The circular chimney multiplied the flame, the outer globe shaped shade aiding in drawing the air through the pierced sleeve, the circular wick also drawing air up the cente, aided by the tall chimneys. They became unfashionable c1860 with the invention of shale oil kerosene, a high ignition, thin fuel that would explode such compressive devices.
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