The exhibition of Nizhnevartovsk Museum of Local History contains a kerosene lamp with a metal reflector and protective glass of the German company “Brenner Kosmos”. Its figured body is made of opaque white glass with a deepening in its central part. It was used to attach a removable metal reflector. There is a cloth wick under protective glass.
The first kerosene lamps were supposedly invented in 1853. It was when the pharmacist from Lviv, whose name was Ignacy Lukasiewicz, slightly changed the design of an oil lamp and started to fill it with kerosene. It looked like a metal cylinder with a fuel can in its bottom part. A protective glass was on top and covered the burning wick. The first models of such lamps, presented to the public by Ignacy Lukasiewicz, were very large. Many people were afraid of unfamiliar fuel. Moreover, it was believed that a massive body of a lamp better protected from fire or explosion. Later, it turned out that kerosene is not explosive. Then, the lamps became smaller and lighter.
By the end of the 19th century, kerosene lamps became one of the most popular light sources. They could be easily made from oil lamps, and kerosene was already cheap fuel. More and more oil was processed all over the world, and its products gradually became cheaper. Storm lanterns also appeared at the same time. It was convenient to carry them. Their glass domes reliably protected the flame from the wind.
Copper burners “Kosmos” were the most common in Europe. Berlin factory “Wild & Wessel” received the first patent for its production in 1865. However, the trademark “Kosmos” appeared on the lamps only ten years later. In 1899, the trademark became the property of another German factory, known as “Brokelman, Jager & Co”. New owners changed the brand name to “Kosmos Brenner”. It is translated into Russian as “Space Burner”. The factory proceeded to produce the light fittings under this name until the 1970s. However, the popularity of kerosene lamps gradually declined because they were replaced by electric lighting.
The first kerosene lamps were supposedly invented in 1853. It was when the pharmacist from Lviv, whose name was Ignacy Lukasiewicz, slightly changed the design of an oil lamp and started to fill it with kerosene. It looked like a metal cylinder with a fuel can in its bottom part. A protective glass was on top and covered the burning wick. The first models of such lamps, presented to the public by Ignacy Lukasiewicz, were very large. Many people were afraid of unfamiliar fuel. Moreover, it was believed that a massive body of a lamp better protected from fire or explosion. Later, it turned out that kerosene is not explosive. Then, the lamps became smaller and lighter.
By the end of the 19th century, kerosene lamps became one of the most popular light sources. They could be easily made from oil lamps, and kerosene was already cheap fuel. More and more oil was processed all over the world, and its products gradually became cheaper. Storm lanterns also appeared at the same time. It was convenient to carry them. Their glass domes reliably protected the flame from the wind.
Copper burners “Kosmos” were the most common in Europe. Berlin factory “Wild & Wessel” received the first patent for its production in 1865. However, the trademark “Kosmos” appeared on the lamps only ten years later. In 1899, the trademark became the property of another German factory, known as “Brokelman, Jager & Co”. New owners changed the brand name to “Kosmos Brenner”. It is translated into Russian as “Space Burner”. The factory proceeded to produce the light fittings under this name until the 1970s. However, the popularity of kerosene lamps gradually declined because they were replaced by electric lighting.