Antique Optic Miniature Stem Oil Lamp, S1-103 GLOWS

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"Optic" Stem Lamp by US Glass , S1-103, Ca. 1909, Glows under Black Light Clear Glass Miniature Stem Lamp, S1-103 About 4 1/2" to top of collar Base about 3 1/4" wide on the diagonal About 9 1/2" tall overall (to top of chimney) Clear Glass Stem Lamp based on Hobbs design Background & History: The miniature "Optic" stem lamp appears to have been made by U.S. Glass Co, ca. 1909, based on a design created by the Hobbs Glass Co (which US Glass acquired at its formation in 1891). The square base with the beehive shaped stem appears to have been used in at least two other night lamps made by Hobbs and later by US Glass (S1-508 and H-63/64); t were also full-size lamps using the same base design (Thuro, "Oil Lamps: The Kerosene Era in North America", page 322). We can date the lamp to 1909-1910 based on McDonald's ("Evolution of the Night Lamp") research showing that the lamp appeared in the US Glass Company's catalog for that year. About 1911 US Glass switched from the external collar present on this lamp to a collar consisting of a brass threaded tube inserted into the glass neck of the font. Thus, this lamp dates back to at lease 1909-10 or perhaps earlier. To further check this lamp's age, we viewed it under ultra-violet ("black") light. To learn more about this "black light test" for determining the age of old glass, read the notes below on "Fluorescence in Old Clear Glass". Needless to say this lamp did glow quite nicely when viewed under "black" light (see the third photo) supporting our dating of this lamp as being prior to about 1915. Condition of this lamp: This lamp is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks. T are several bubbles in the glass which are typical of old glass lamps and which do not detract from the appearance of the lamp at all. The lamp was made in a two part mold and the mold lines are clearly visible. We believe that the font and the stem were pressed into separate molds and then fused together (although we've not 100% sure of this); the mold lines on the stem and on the font of this lamp are not aligned which is why we believe that the lamp was made in two molds. A brass collar, with no splits or cracks, is securely attached to the lamp and an Acorn burner screws tightly into the collar. The wick wheel (embossed "THE P & A MFG CO ACORN") turns relatively easily and adjusts the wick as it should. The lamp comes with a clear glass chimney (no chips, cracks or other defects). Measurements are provided below the photo to the left. This is an excellent example of a 95+ year old popular little night lamp. With its fully functional burner and easily replaced clear glass chimney (should it crack or break) it has the added advantage of still being usable today. Just fill it with a suitable lamp oil (we use clear, odorless paraffin, or candle, oil) and it will be ready for that stormy night when the power goes out or to provide a spot of mood light as one might use a candle. Fluorescence in Old Clear Glass Manganese Dioxide (MnO 2), found naturally as the mineral Pyrolusite, was used by by glass makers, as far back as ancient Egyptian and Roman times and up until about 1915, as a decolorizing agent in order to make clear, colorless glass. The natural material used to make glass contains iron impurities. These impurities impart a coke-bottle green (and sometimes brown) color to the glass. Manganese Dioxide, added to the molten glass mixture, neutralizes the coloring effects of the iron impurities. Adding Manganese to glass has a side-effect of which we doubt old glass makers were aware. While not itself fluorescent, Manganese activates fluorescence in other elements or compounds. Clear glass which has had Manganese Dioxide added to it will glow with a green or yellow-... read more

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