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- Solar Lamp, 1855-1865 - Solar lamps were marketed as burning as brightly as the sun. A circular, hollow wick allowed for complete combustion, drawing air from both inside and outside. The glass font on this lamp is unusual because it shows the air tube. Exposing the mechanics would have been undesirable to the 19th century consumer, indicating this was an inexpensive lamp.
- 1855-1865
- Collections - Artifact
Solar Lamp, 1855-1865
Solar lamps were marketed as burning as brightly as the sun. A circular, hollow wick allowed for complete combustion, drawing air from both inside and outside. The glass font on this lamp is unusual because it shows the air tube. Exposing the mechanics would have been undesirable to the 19th century consumer, indicating this was an inexpensive lamp.
- Patent Model of Solar Lamp, 1871 - From 1790 to 1880, the U.S. Patent Office required applicants to submit a miniature model along with diagrams and written descriptions detailing the operation of their invention. Patent models could be no larger than 12" by 12" by 12". Though they were usually not operational, these models helped explain an inventor's idea and protect it from competitors.
- January 31, 1871
- Collections - Artifact
Patent Model of Solar Lamp, 1871
From 1790 to 1880, the U.S. Patent Office required applicants to submit a miniature model along with diagrams and written descriptions detailing the operation of their invention. Patent models could be no larger than 12" by 12" by 12". Though they were usually not operational, these models helped explain an inventor's idea and protect it from competitors.
- Solar Lamp, 1846-1851 - Solar lamps were marketed as burning as bright as the sun. Desirable because they used inexpensive fuels like lard and grease, these lamps were engineered to burn efficiently -- a circular, hollow wick allowed for complete combustion, drawing air from both inside and outside. Pewter was an unusual material for a solar lamp because it was expensive and the heat could damage the soft metal.
- 1846-1851
- Collections - Artifact
Solar Lamp, 1846-1851
Solar lamps were marketed as burning as bright as the sun. Desirable because they used inexpensive fuels like lard and grease, these lamps were engineered to burn efficiently -- a circular, hollow wick allowed for complete combustion, drawing air from both inside and outside. Pewter was an unusual material for a solar lamp because it was expensive and the heat could damage the soft metal.