During the frequent hurricanes that attacked the Gulf Coast states in the last few years, people were without power for days, and even weeks in some cases. Emergency supplies were almost impossible to find in the stores, and batteries do eventually wear out. One item that has been dotted across the landscape of American homes in the past several decades are those decanter styled glass oil lamps that are purchased for their decorative value usually. Well, they came in handy during these emergencies when the candles and flashlights were burned up or depleted.
Over a hundred years ago, people used these lamps exclusively to continue their daily chores inside their homes; well after sun had gone down for the day. Reading, sewing, and doing homework was made possible by these glass lamps as they throw a wide swath of bright light over a table or portion of a rooms when being used. There were also chandlers and streetlights made from the same design at one time, and eventually replaced by gas, and the electrical lighting as time passed.
Today these lamps have been updated for the times, and come in fashionable spheres, and other designer configurations. However, the old standard oil and wick style lamp with the long cylindrical glass tube on top is the best choice for emergency lighting. Be sure and keep a supply of the cotton wicks, and lamp oil on hand, so you can ride out extended power outages. For safety concerns always extinguish flame based products prior to going to sleep or leaving the room they are currently lighting.
