Lamp Trivia

[island]

Tom and Terry have been posting real "mean" trivia questions on here so I thought I would post this easy one.

The Argand lamp was a step forward in lighthouse technology. This lamp and later lamps of similar design contained a feature that not only enhanced illumination but also significantly reduced the work of keepers. What was this feature?

[Zachary]

The flame was enclosed in glass to keep it from going out? (I'm just taking a shot in the dark)

[bert911]

Argand's lamps incorporated a hollow wick?

Robert

[Hersh]

larger fuel reserviors ??

[island]

A larger fuel storage would be an advantage to the keeper if it reduced the number of trips up and down the tower to replenish the lamp fuel supply and less frequent filling of the individual lamps.

The circular or hollow wick served primarily to provide more combustion surface in a small area with more concentrated flame produced than would be possible with a flat wick, thus more illumination from a smaller size lamp.

The glass chimney by virtue of the “chimney effect” causes more combustion air to flow uniformly up into the lamp to feed the flame. This enables more complete combustion of the lamp fuel with the result being significantly greater illumination intensity with less smoke and oily soot produced to coat and cover glass and metal surfaces inside the lantern, thus less daily lantern cleaning required of the keeper.