I live frugally and do not spend money often on “toys” or luxuries. My definition of “luxury” is probably out of step with modern sensibilities. To my mind, things like Keurig machines, brand-new must-have electronic gizmos, etc., are luxuries. My old drip coffee maker, my 1970s appliances, these all work just as well as they ever did. I see no reason to spend money on new things for the sake of having new things. Besides, older goods are better made and last longer.
My blender is a 1962, my washer and dryer late 70s, my vacuum a 45-year-old Electrolux, my lamps range from 1880 to 1931, and my stereo is a 1971 Zenith console with a record-stacking turntable.
May 6, 2023·edited May 6, 2023Liked by Josh Slocum
"Zenith - the quality goes in before the name goes on!"
My mom worked for a Zenith distributor. We had the console/turntable, possibly from that same year. I know it appeared sometime in the early 70s.
My paternal grandfather and grandmother used kerosene lamps - and an outhouse, woodburning stove, wash basin, wash bucket, and a back porch well where you drew up the water. My early childhood summer visits were full of "new" experiences for this city kid.
Thank you for bringing back some wonderful memories. ❤️
When I move in a few months to an apartment in my rental house, the first thing I'm doing is putting in a small wood cookstove. Why just put one in to heat? Why would you not take advantage of the heat for a cooking surface?
Oh, absolutely. My grandma used cast iron pans on that cast iron stove and made some of the best food I've ever eaten. Biscuits. Red eye gravy. Salt back pork. Shelled on her porch peas. Green beans and corn from their garden. Eggs gathered from the hens - some of whom liked to nest and lay under the house where we kids gleefully agreed to retrieve them.
What about it? Life has risk. Every family in the Western world from rich to poor lit with these, and despite modern exaggerated fears, most of their houses didn't burn down.
I refuse to live in modern-inculcated paranoia.
If you have ever lit candles (maybe scented), you are objectively at higher risk than I am. Naked flames with no glass shield are more dangerous. Yet modern people use them all the time, then look at my lamps and get nervous.
Your answer felt aggressive, defensive, and accusatory. Really? I was simply asking a practical question. I even remarked on their beauty. I wasn’t making a judgment or being critical. And, I’m not paranoid or nervous. I was merely asking about what additional precautions one would have to take to light their home with these lamps.
I meant no offense, I'm sorry. I'm sometimes too blunt. I didn't realize you were inquiring about how someone else could do this safely--I'm used to lectures about why I shouldn't. Got a few of those tonight, and sorry I spilled onto you, Suzi.
Mainly, it's best to use common sense. Put them on a stable surface away from clutter. Don't place them too high on wall shelves, but wall mounts are fine with sufficient ceiling clearance.
Small table flat wick lamps are stable as anything. Learn your lamp and stay with it as it warms up until it's settled and you understand how it comes to full flame. If you have cats or dogs, take into account how they behave. My cats like to be near them, but I stay near them and keep an eye out. In 12 years they've never knocked one over..
I recommend keeping a fire extinquisher on both levels of the house (good idea anyway). Most of these will self extinguish if tipped over, or at least they won't explode If one is dropped while lit that could be worse, but it's so rare. I've never had it happen, and neither have any of my friends who are preppers or heavy lamp users.
After you get to know and live around them, it's second nature. Hope that helps:)
Suzi, hello, I place my oil lamp on a cabinet less frequently occupied by my cats. Then, I place heavy objects near the base of the lamp. One such object is a beautifully carved wooden box containing the ashes of a cat from a previous kitty generation. The barriers to letting the lamp fall over to a full 180°, can be anything that has a large base, is heavy, and impossible to tip over.
Yes. Don't go by the apparent amount of light you see in the photograph. Cameras do not see light the same way the human eye does. It's actually much brighter than it looks in the photograph.
May 6, 2023·edited May 6, 2023Liked by Josh Slocum
These lamps are likely putting out near infrared light (NIR) too, which is likely to be soothing to felines and humans, and for good reason. NIR, while we can’t see is something missing from modern electrical lighting ever since the planned obsolescence of incandescent bulbs.
Heather Heying wrote about it in Natural Selections and both she and Brett discussed it a bit in Dark Horse.
“The sun came before everything you know. It came before you, and before everyone in your family. It came before all life on Earth, and before the Earth itself. When life began, the sun was already a constant. Everything we are, all of our systems, assume that sunlight is a large part of our lives.
Now we spend most of our time inside, lit by lights that cast photons only in the visible spectrum, a narrow band of what the sun produces. We are coming to know some of what that is costing us, health wise. Presumably, there is much more that we do not yet know.”
I talk about this very thing with Heather, my lamps, and her comments on firelight, in an upcoming Audio two parter. Will announce on this Sunday's show.
Semi-related: the hardcover edition of Hunter-Gatherer's Guide makes great use of a campfire logo which is embossed on the front (remove the jacket) and as a header to each chapter.
Sadly this touch didn't make it to the Spanish version.
On the other hand, the two are such gifted writers in English but not too obtuse that their prose translates easily into Spanish. That's a rare trait - both in their writing ability and the ability of the translator.
Yeah, I own both copies. It made my day to see their book being sold in shops in Mexico.
A picture of an old fashioned lamp illuminating Mina's cute kitty face? Yes please.
Your 100th episode on lamps is still one of my favorites, I never would have gotten my miniature "Beatty" if you hadn't distilled the topic so matter-o-factlly.
Josh, thank you for the links. I love my old Eagle lamps. They provide beautiful light and a surprising amount of heat. I saw your tutorial on a past show. The light given off by the Aladdin lamps amazed me. So much brighter and whiter than I've ever seen from a kerosene lamp. I'll be purchasing one this fall to add to my collection.
You'll love it. But, you do have to get used to them. They're fussy but great.
If you go antique, I recommend a Model B. Best burner.
For new, I'd buy a newly manufactured Aladdin MaxBrite500 burner. Gorgeous, classic, adn supposed to be their best. Backwards compatible on all antique fonts, too.
For a real workhorse that's bright and trouble free without mantles, go for a center draft table lamp. Rochester, Miller, Rayo.
I love this! We had lamps growing up in 70s and never lit them! Now I have one that I never light but this inspires me, thank you!! This is a beautiful lamp and hobby! Also, we love the older electronics too. PS I totally did not see the cat first time :)
Growing up in SoCal our entire house was furnished with antiques that my mom bought at garage sales and, occasionally, antique stores. (We were quite poor, but my mom had a good eye and it seemed like (late 1970s and 1980s) there were a lot of old people dying or moving into homes and little appreciation for their "old" stuff.) I have always had a love and appreciation for antiques and the beauty and craftmanship they have that are not found in modern items, so I love that you collect oil lamps, they are beautiful and functional and all the things that we no longer seem to cherish. :)
FYI I tried contacting Manscape to sponsor you. I think you're their perfect clientele. 🌻
They’re beautiful. I was admiring them on the pic you posted recently.
Ain't nothin' like getting into something old-school. Some things are just better old-school.
What's that old saying? Oh yeah. They don't make 'em like they used to.
Yes, sir!
My blender is a 1962, my washer and dryer late 70s, my vacuum a 45-year-old Electrolux, my lamps range from 1880 to 1931, and my stereo is a 1971 Zenith console with a record-stacking turntable.
What's not "luxury" about this?
Damn right. If it ain't broke, damn sure don't replace it.
"Zenith - the quality goes in before the name goes on!"
My mom worked for a Zenith distributor. We had the console/turntable, possibly from that same year. I know it appeared sometime in the early 70s.
My paternal grandfather and grandmother used kerosene lamps - and an outhouse, woodburning stove, wash basin, wash bucket, and a back porch well where you drew up the water. My early childhood summer visits were full of "new" experiences for this city kid.
Thank you for bringing back some wonderful memories. ❤️
Thanks for telling yours!
When I move in a few months to an apartment in my rental house, the first thing I'm doing is putting in a small wood cookstove. Why just put one in to heat? Why would you not take advantage of the heat for a cooking surface?
Oh, absolutely. My grandma used cast iron pans on that cast iron stove and made some of the best food I've ever eaten. Biscuits. Red eye gravy. Salt back pork. Shelled on her porch peas. Green beans and corn from their garden. Eggs gathered from the hens - some of whom liked to nest and lay under the house where we kids gleefully agreed to retrieve them.
Good luck in your new place!
They are absolutely beautiful and I believe that lighting is what makes a home inviting and warm. What about fire hazard though?
What about it? Life has risk. Every family in the Western world from rich to poor lit with these, and despite modern exaggerated fears, most of their houses didn't burn down.
I refuse to live in modern-inculcated paranoia.
If you have ever lit candles (maybe scented), you are objectively at higher risk than I am. Naked flames with no glass shield are more dangerous. Yet modern people use them all the time, then look at my lamps and get nervous.
Your answer felt aggressive, defensive, and accusatory. Really? I was simply asking a practical question. I even remarked on their beauty. I wasn’t making a judgment or being critical. And, I’m not paranoid or nervous. I was merely asking about what additional precautions one would have to take to light their home with these lamps.
I meant no offense, I'm sorry. I'm sometimes too blunt. I didn't realize you were inquiring about how someone else could do this safely--I'm used to lectures about why I shouldn't. Got a few of those tonight, and sorry I spilled onto you, Suzi.
Mainly, it's best to use common sense. Put them on a stable surface away from clutter. Don't place them too high on wall shelves, but wall mounts are fine with sufficient ceiling clearance.
Small table flat wick lamps are stable as anything. Learn your lamp and stay with it as it warms up until it's settled and you understand how it comes to full flame. If you have cats or dogs, take into account how they behave. My cats like to be near them, but I stay near them and keep an eye out. In 12 years they've never knocked one over..
I recommend keeping a fire extinquisher on both levels of the house (good idea anyway). Most of these will self extinguish if tipped over, or at least they won't explode If one is dropped while lit that could be worse, but it's so rare. I've never had it happen, and neither have any of my friends who are preppers or heavy lamp users.
After you get to know and live around them, it's second nature. Hope that helps:)
Thank you, Josh. Your answer was very kind and informative.
Suzi, hello, I place my oil lamp on a cabinet less frequently occupied by my cats. Then, I place heavy objects near the base of the lamp. One such object is a beautifully carved wooden box containing the ashes of a cat from a previous kitty generation. The barriers to letting the lamp fall over to a full 180°, can be anything that has a large base, is heavy, and impossible to tip over.
Thank you, Ines. That is very helpful. How lovely that you have the ashes of your beloved kitty.
Can you read with the amount of light?
Yes. Don't go by the apparent amount of light you see in the photograph. Cameras do not see light the same way the human eye does. It's actually much brighter than it looks in the photograph.
Thank you.
These lamps are likely putting out near infrared light (NIR) too, which is likely to be soothing to felines and humans, and for good reason. NIR, while we can’t see is something missing from modern electrical lighting ever since the planned obsolescence of incandescent bulbs.
Heather Heying wrote about it in Natural Selections and both she and Brett discussed it a bit in Dark Horse.
“The sun came before everything you know. It came before you, and before everyone in your family. It came before all life on Earth, and before the Earth itself. When life began, the sun was already a constant. Everything we are, all of our systems, assume that sunlight is a large part of our lives.
Now we spend most of our time inside, lit by lights that cast photons only in the visible spectrum, a narrow band of what the sun produces. We are coming to know some of what that is costing us, health wise. Presumably, there is much more that we do not yet know.”
https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/it-is-dark-inside-your-head
https://youtu.be/fGFuSs6Hm3g
I talk about this very thing with Heather, my lamps, and her comments on firelight, in an upcoming Audio two parter. Will announce on this Sunday's show.
Looking forward to it.
Semi-related: the hardcover edition of Hunter-Gatherer's Guide makes great use of a campfire logo which is embossed on the front (remove the jacket) and as a header to each chapter.
Sadly this touch didn't make it to the Spanish version.
On the other hand, the two are such gifted writers in English but not too obtuse that their prose translates easily into Spanish. That's a rare trait - both in their writing ability and the ability of the translator.
Yeah, I own both copies. It made my day to see their book being sold in shops in Mexico.
Green, are you Mexican or did you move there from somewhere else?
American but have my foot often in both places.
Lol...I was just saying the same thing on another post of yours! I guess we're all tapping into the same well and I like it! 😄
A picture of an old fashioned lamp illuminating Mina's cute kitty face? Yes please.
Your 100th episode on lamps is still one of my favorites, I never would have gotten my miniature "Beatty" if you hadn't distilled the topic so matter-o-factlly.
Mina by the evening lamp...ah, the feeling of Hygge 🥰
Oh, Boy!! If you ever visit NC check out the antique stores 👍 .... ❤️😻😽
Josh, thank you for the links. I love my old Eagle lamps. They provide beautiful light and a surprising amount of heat. I saw your tutorial on a past show. The light given off by the Aladdin lamps amazed me. So much brighter and whiter than I've ever seen from a kerosene lamp. I'll be purchasing one this fall to add to my collection.
You'll love it. But, you do have to get used to them. They're fussy but great.
If you go antique, I recommend a Model B. Best burner.
For new, I'd buy a newly manufactured Aladdin MaxBrite500 burner. Gorgeous, classic, adn supposed to be their best. Backwards compatible on all antique fonts, too.
For a real workhorse that's bright and trouble free without mantles, go for a center draft table lamp. Rochester, Miller, Rayo.
I'm actually excited about the fussiness. I think it will be a challenging and fun learning experience. Thanks for the advice on models.
I'd love to see your Eagle lamps.
I'll make them the background for our next coaching session 😉.
Don't get too excited. They are all very basic save one that's pink and girly.
Much more pleasant than halogen bulbs. Modern buildings seem to always be overlit. I find it really fatiguing.
Awful. The worst are fluorescents. And ALL OVERHEAD BLANKET LIGHTING.
Yup. Cold and alienating. Incandescent is vastly superior.
Along with the buzz and flicker.
Damn it to hell.
You are such a likeable dude. For some reason your thoughts about lamps give me hope for the world. 👍
Lovely.
I love this! We had lamps growing up in 70s and never lit them! Now I have one that I never light but this inspires me, thank you!! This is a beautiful lamp and hobby! Also, we love the older electronics too. PS I totally did not see the cat first time :)
Growing up in SoCal our entire house was furnished with antiques that my mom bought at garage sales and, occasionally, antique stores. (We were quite poor, but my mom had a good eye and it seemed like (late 1970s and 1980s) there were a lot of old people dying or moving into homes and little appreciation for their "old" stuff.) I have always had a love and appreciation for antiques and the beauty and craftmanship they have that are not found in modern items, so I love that you collect oil lamps, they are beautiful and functional and all the things that we no longer seem to cherish. :)
These are so charming! I also have to remind myself that I’m an adult with my own money and can choose how I do things in my house.