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]]>We had to maintain and replace the mantles, and we had to light them by hand, but the days of buying or making candles, and of buying or rendering lamp oil, were over.
We could have a system of pipes installed, with our fixtures mounted to them, and contract with the gas company to connect and supply our system.
Of course this meant one more utility bill to pay if we already had public water supplied. In fact, in many cases it meant that we had our first utility bill. Municipal water and sewer service had started to become available earlier, but it took many years to implement and, often, the gas service became available first.
Yes, the gas was supplied to our homes and businesses through underground pipes, just as it is today. But how did the gas company get the gas in the first place? One of the first pipelines to bring natural gas from a gas field to a city was completed in 1821. That pipeline brought natural gas from fields in Indiana to the city of Chicago, and it wasn’t very efficient. Before that time, and for many years afterward, the natural gas we used to light our homes was actually manufactured in the town we lived in.
The gas that we used to light our spaces during the Gaslight era was coal gas. It was natural gas, but it was manufactured by heating coal in an oven that was sealed to keep oxygen out. Then the gas was purified — filtered — pressurized and piped to our homes, businesses and street lights. It was made by the process we know today as “coal gasification.”
In 1792, William Murdoch used coal gas to light his house. At the time, Murdoch was working for Matthew Boulton and James Watt at their Soho Foundry steam engine works, and had been assigned to oversee the company’s engines in a tin mining operation in Cornwall. He was experimenting with various types of gas, to see which might produce the best light. He decided that coal gas as the most effective, and used it in his house, in part, as a demonstration.
This was the beginning of the Gaslight Era. By the early 1800s, gas street lights were becoming common in most major cities, and the installation of gas lighting systems was well underway. Very late in the 19th century and early in the 20th century, electricity gradually replaced gas as the source of lighting, with the interesting period of dual-fuel (gas and electric) fixtures over a period of about 20 years as part of the transition.
Gas light fixtures were installed below ceiling height for two reasons. The most important one was that they made the light with a flame, so the actual lighted bowl had to be kept a safe distance away from any materials that it might ignite. A second reason was that the gas to the fixture was turned on and off with a valve, or valves, that were built into it.
That, plus the fact that the flame had to be lit after the gas was turned on, meant that you wanted the fixture to be reasonably easy to reach — either from the floor or with the use of a small step-stool, if needed.
The result of this is that true gas light fixtures, and the most authentic reproductions, are chandeliers, pendant lights and wall sconces. They had (and have) open bowls, usually made of glass and often ornate, which hold the lighted mantle — or, in modern fixtures, a light bulb. In the original fixtures, the open bowl was needed to allow the products of the combustion to escape. It also directed most of the light upward. Using glass for the bowl allowed the light to spread sideways and, to some extent, downward.
At Gas Lanterns & Lights, we specialise in selling high quality gas lanterns & lights. Get in touch today for more information.
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]]>Natural gas continues to be one of the lowest cost and most efficient energy sources available. Based on recent pricing, you could save up to 50% compared to other energy sources when you convert to natural gas heat!
You can save energy and money when you convert to using natural gas to heat your residence. It’s good to estimate your annual heating or annual water heating costs with natural gas in comparison to other energy sources.
Unlike other energy sources, natural gas provides instant heat as soon as it’s turned on. Natural gas can keep your entire residence comfortable by providing instant warm heat to your furnace, fireplace, stove and water heater.
Natural gas is piped directly into your residence. It’s always there when you need it and you never have to worry about running out of fuel or arranging for deliveries.
When you use natural gas, 90 percent of what is delivered to your residence is considered useful energy, as opposed to electricity, which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, loses more than two-thirds of its usable energy in its generation and transmission from the producer to your residence.
Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
There is an abundance of natural gas products and appliances available to provide comfort in
your residence.
● Natural gas high-efficiency furnaces cost less than heating with oil and electricity.
● Natural gas water heaters are faster at heating water than electric water heaters.
● Natural gas fireplaces never burn out and create less pollution than traditional fires.
● Natural gas cooking ranges and grills have a constant fuel supply so they warm up fast
and provide precise cooking.
● Natural gas dryers provide fast drying at lower temperatures.
● Natural gas outdoor lights operate even during electrical power outages to keep your
residence lit.
● Natural gas patio heaters provide the comfort of a campfire without the mess.
● Natural gas generators provide your residence with electricity when your utility power is
interrupted due to snow, ice, or high winds.
At Gas Lanterns & Lights, we sell high quality gas lights that provide the best experience for your home, get in touch today!
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]]>Camping is one of the most enjoyable getaways that many people choose. Some campers don’t just go for a day or two; they spend a lot more time out in the beauty of nature. Camping is a fun activity and can be enjoyed by everyone, provided you have the right camping equipment to spend your night and time at the camp sites, keeping your camp area light up at night being one of those factors.
Gas lighting is typically used for camping as it is convenient, versatile and economical. Gas camping lights are available in different power outputs and styles. They can be attached to different kind cylinders depending on their use.
The gas camping light range starts with the cartridge style lamps, namely the Piezzo Cartridge Lamp and Cartridge Fisherman’s Lamp. Both these lamps run of the 190g butane cartridge. They are easy to move around, they have a steel body for extra protection and the cartridges just screws in. The difference between the two lamps is the one lights up the area around it and the other works light a torch and shines light in a certain direction.
The next set in the gas camping light range is the screw on lights. These lights are separate units and can be screwed onto different cylinders depending on what you would like to use them for. They are bigger and brighter than the cartridge style lamps. There are three of these style lights in the range, namely the 200 Watt/100CP Lamp, the 500Watt/300CP Lamp and the 500CP Fisherman’s Lamp.
These lights can be screwed onto smaller cylinders if you plan to move them around a lot or on bigger cylinders if you want them to stay in one place and switched on for longer periods of time. The bigger 6kg cylinder will allow the lights to run for longer periods. Once again these lights have different uses, the 100CP and 300CP lamps work as lamps and light up the area all around them and the Fisherman’s Lamp works light a floodlight and shines light in a certain direction.
The other option available for these lamps is they can be screwed onto extension arms and them onto cylinders allowing them to stand higher and light up more area. The extension arms come in 3 sizes, 250mm, 500mm, and 1000mm.
Another tip is that these lamps can be used around the house when we experience blackouts or load shedding. In conclusion, no matter what style and strength of lighting you need there is a gas powered light available to suit your needs.
At Gas Lanterns and Lights, we specialize in selling high quality gas lanterns at affordable prices, get in touch today!
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]]>The post The History of Gas Lamps in America appeared first on Gas Lanterns and Lights.
]]>Many years before William Murdoch illuminated his house with the first gas lamp there were tries to make streets safer and more comfortable at night by using any kind of artificial light. In 1417, Mayor of London gave an order for citizens to put lights on the streets on the winter nights and Paris had a law since 1524 that all the houses that face the streets must have light in
windows so people can see. But using coal gas for lightning didn’t came suddenly. Since 1667 it was known that coal gas is flammable. It took 140 years, Industrial Revolution and a man called William Murdoch for things to start.
While working at the Soho Foundry, he experimented with different types of gas and found that coal gas (result of distillation of coal) is the most effective. Idea was to transport gas through pipe installations to the place of consumption and there lit in the gas lamps to be used for illumination. In 1792, he lit his house with coal gas which is considered as first commercial use of gas and gas lamps for illumination.
After that, in 1798, he used gas to light the main building of the place he worked – Soho Foundry and 1802 lit the outside of the building in a public display of the gas light which was met with great astonishment by the local population. In Paris in 1801, Philip Lebon had used gas to lit his house. 1807 Pall Mall in London was the first street to be illuminated with gaslamps and 1820 Paris starts using gas lamps on the streets.
Gas streetlights were placed on the posts and had to be lit every evening and put out every morning. That was a job of Lamp lighters that had to take care not to let too much gas into lamp and then lit it which would result in explosion. After that gas light spread to other countries. Baltimore was the first city in the United States to have gas streetlights. Gas lamps (for house use or of the street kind) were designed in elegant and attractive manner.
Global usage of gas lamps on streets, marks the beginning of the big gas companies. Until the early 20th century most of the cities in the Europe and
America had gas streetlights and a gas lamps in the houses. Then electric light started to take over and the gaslight faded into history. Now it is used mostly in places where it is desirable to maintain historical authenticity or as a tourist attraction. Gas light is now also used for camping.
While a big step in the direction of effective and cheap public lightning, gas light had its flaws. Because there were no regulations, firms that supplied
gas maintained poor workmanship which resulted in leaking pipes and low gas pressure. For the same reason there were often cases of fire, explosions and suffocations. Despite of all the flaws it remained popular method of illumination for many years.
At Gas Lanterns & Lights, we sell a range of gas lights to fix your needs. Get in touch or shop today!
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]]>Gas from coal was transported through pipes to gas lanterns and lamps placed on posts. The Lamplighters were workers who cared for the lamps, lit them every evening and extinguished them every morning. First London, then Paris, and finally the United States were surrounded in the glow of the gas lanterns. Baltimore was the first city in the United States to get gas lighting in 1816 which quickly moved along the coast to light the city of Charleston. Though gas lighting is no longer prominent, gas lamps can still be seen in places that wish to keep historical authenticity.
From Upper King to South of Broad, the flickering flame of gas lamps can be admired on any night in the Lowcountry. Gas Lamps were designed in elegant and attractive manners in the past and are still held to those standards today
Here’s 11 interesting facts about gas lamps in London –
At Gas Lanterns & Lights, we specialise in gas lamps and lanterns at an affordable price, shop today!
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]]>Edison consciously modeled his plans for an electric lighting system on the gas light technology. Instead of gas-making plants, he designed generators. Where pipes ran under the streets distributing gas to end users, he planned to place electrical “mains” (conductors) to carry current. Since people were able to have gas lamps in many rooms and control them individually, Edison intended his lamps to be capable of independent operation.
Even before Edison demonstrated a working lamp, gas stocks began to fall in price. In late 1879 he and his men began making detailed cost studies of gas light in order to determine price goals that the electric light would have to meet. After the lamp invention, promotions for the Edison system duly reported deaths and injuries due to gas.
Despite nightmares like the one depicted above, gas manufacturers responded to the challenge with two major advances. The first was better quality gas. The second was an incandescent mantle invented by Carl Auer von Welsbach of Austria (who later invented the first commercial metal filament light bulb). Both innovations resulted in more brighter, more efficient light.
Gas proved a tough competitor since infrastructure already existed, whereas electric light could not be used until generating plants were built and wires were strung. Also, gas could be used for heating and cooking as well as light. In 1910, GE’s William Coolidge invented a tungsten-filament lamp capable of giving 10 lumens per watt. That invention, combined with the growing level of electrification in the country effectively eliminated competition from gas lighting.
Gas Lanterns & Lights specialises in selling and installing Gas Lanterns & Lights, get in touch to see how we can help today!
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]]>If you want to convince homebuyers to add natural gas lighting as a feature, don’t forget to mention the following additional benefits:
Homebuyers will also love the fact that natural gas lights are economical and require little maintenance; some models will last for years. Most come with slide-out tempered glass that is easy to clean and there are no light bulbs to change.
Natural gas lights come in a variety of styles, materials and options that fit virtually any homebuyer’s preference, from traditional to contemporary. A traditional gas lamppost is a perfect addition to an elegant front entrance. Smaller lights can be used to illuminate a sidewalk or pathway. Tiki torch styles are an excellent choice for a deck or patio. Mounting options include ceiling, post, wall and pedestal.
Homebuyers can choose between traditional gas lights that operate continuously or models that use daylight-sensitive electronic dimmer switches. These switches regulate the flow of natural gas during daylight hours and turn it up after dark. Or, consider gas lamps with an electronic gas safety starter on a timer or switch. This feature will turn a lamp on at dusk and off at daybreak; saving up to 50 percent on energy costs. Some models also offer battery-operated, solar-charged switches. For the eco-conscious homebuyer, models are available with efficient gas burners and made from recyclable materials.
The elegance and sophistication of natural gas lights provide curb appeal that may actually increase the value of the home. Homebuyers will appreciate this advantage when they are ready to sell and move on to their next residence. Make sure your prospective home buyers can view the house at night so they see the unique and distinctive look of natural gas lighting.
At Gas Lanterns And Lights, we can help you find the best gas light or lantern for your home. Get in touch to see how we can help!
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]]>Gas lighting became the third largest industry in the country, behind railroads and mining. Produced in municipal “gashouses” as a by-product of bituminous coal heated in airtight chambers, gas was driven off the coal, collected and purified, and then piped into homes and commercial buildings in nearly every city in the country. Gas was used to illuminate chandeliers, wall sconces (called “brackets”) and “portables,” which were table lamps that drew their gas from a flexible tube attached to an overhead light.
But the era of gas lighting was to be short-lived, lasting just half a century. The invention of the light bulb in 1879 signaled the beginning of the end. As gas was initially cheaper and more reliable than electricity, transitional gas-and-electric combination fixtures were made at first (typically, the electric lights pointed down and the gas jets up).
The introduction in 1908 of the durable, inexpensive tungsten filament light bulb, which is still in use today, was the final blow that recategorized gas lighting as old-fashioned and out of date, and relegated the energy source to secondary roles like the basement furnace and kitchen stove.
Now with the rise of period home restoration, those old gas chandeliers and sconces are being rediscovered and restored. They can be found anywhere from vintage lighting dealers to local salvage companies, where simple gas fixtures can still be purchased at a reasonable price, usually under a few hundred dollars.
If you’re thinking of installing a vintage gas fixture in your home, the first step is to make sure it’s in good working order. Start by cleaning it thoroughly—a straightforward process, but one that takes a bit of patience and the right materials.
If you’re lucky enough to find a fixture that has never been electrified and still has its original patina intact, we recommend using an all-purpose cleaner, which removes dirt and grime but won’t disturb the original finish of the aged brass. Before starting, it’s important to completely disassemble the chandelier, which helps avoid leaving any excess soapy residue on the metal.
If the finish is in good shape but just needs a touch-up in a few spots, We suggest wetting a cotton swab with denatured alcohol and gently rubbing the soiled areas.
Old splatters from sloppy ceiling paint jobs are a common problem. Often, a chandelier that’s been completely painted over is the easiest to restore, as paint can protect the original finish; once it’s removed, the metal can shine like new.
If the fixture is spelter—an alloy of zinc made as a cheaper substitute for more substantial brass—and has a decorative painted finish, complete stripping and refinishing is often the only solution, as the underlying patina and color usually can’t be salvaged. To tell if the piece is spelter, lightly scratch the surface in an unobtrusive spot—spelter will look silver or white underneath.
At Gas Lanterns & Lights, we specialize in natural gas lights & natural gas light fixtures, get in touch today to see how we can help.
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]]>A gas lamp’s operating cost depends on how much fuel it consumes, how much money that fuel costs, and how often you run the lamp. Some gas lamps run all the time. If you run yours only when it is dark enough for the flame to be useful, you will cut your expenses by more than half. You can achieve even more savings by not running the lamp all night long, or by only running it some nights.
Your lamp should have a plate or label indicating how much energy it uses, in BTUs per hour. You can also call the manufacturer to get this information. Modern yard and driveway gas lamps typically use between 1,000 and 10,000 BTUs per hour, based on continuous operation. Indoor lamps typically use a little less. However, with such a wide variety of designs available, you may find models that exceed these ranges.
Gas prices make up the other half of the cost equation. Modern gas lamps usually run on natural gas supplied by your local gas utility. Natural gas is a widely occurring hydrocarbon or “fossil” fuel, extracted and refined into nearly pure methane before being delivered via utility pipelines to consumers’ homes. You can find out the gas prices from your local natural gas utility simply by calling them or visiting their website. Gas utilities usually price natural gas by the therm, which is equal to 100,000 BTUs.
Between the amount of fuel they use and the price of that fuel, gas lamps cost more to operate than comparable electric lights. However, they do not cost so much more as to make them impractical. At a typical price of 60 cents per therm, a typical outdoor gas lamp using 3,500 BTUs per hour would consume about 300 therms in a year, working out to an annual cost of $180, assuming continuous operation. By limiting your lamp use, you could operate it for much less.
At Gas Lanterns & Lights, we specialize in gas lanterns and fixtures, get in touch today to see how we can help.
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]]>Fortunately, there are not very many issues that can arise with both indoor and outdoor gas lighting. Much like a car engine, gas lights need two elements to run properly – fire and fuel. When troubleshooting gas lights, these are the two basic areas you should look:
Gas lights run off of two main fuel sources, natural gas and propane. When properly installed by a licensed plumber, your gas lights should not give you very much trouble. It is possible for parts of the gas light to become obstructed from time to time. Following are areas of the gas light to commonly become obstructed and are easy to clean:
Here are areas of the gas light that may require the assistance of a professional:
If your gas light is not equipped with an electronic ignition or a safety shutoff valve, an extinguished flame can be very dangerous, especially for interior gas light – allowing the gas to slowly fill the room. For exterior gas lights, while it may still be dangerous, it can also be expensive due to wasted fuel.
It is important to remember that all major repairs to gas lights, such as gas line replacement, installation of a gas light regulator and repair of both electronic and manual ignition modules should be performed by a licensed plumber or electrician. Performing the repairs on your own could void your warranty.
If you need a new gas light/lantern, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.
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