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One of the "oldest" pieces of technology that I own that still gets used on a regular basis is this Cobalt Blue Aladdin Lincoln Drape lamp. While this is a modern unit with a Type 23 burner, it's essentially the same thing that Aladdin has been making for the last 100 years.

This one still has a Thorium-232 mantle and burns kerosene. It has the output of about a 60W electric lamp. It draws air in through the base of the burner and drags it up through a thimble in the center of the burner to bring the temperature of the flame to a point where it makes the thorium incandesce. Newer mantles use yttrium and don't glow as nicely.

This will burn for about 12 hours on a quart of kerosene.

One of the "oldest" pieces of technology that I own that still gets used on a regular basis is this Cobalt Blue Aladdin Lincoln Drape lamp. While this is a modern unit with a Type 23 burner, it's essentially the same thing that Aladdin has been making for the last 100 years. This one still has a Thorium-232 mantle and burns kerosene. It has the output of about a 60W electric lamp. It draws air in through the base of the burner and drags it up through a thimble in the center of the burner to bring the temperature of the flame to a point where it makes the thorium incandesce. Newer mantles use yttrium and don't glow as nicely. This will burn for about 12 hours on a quart of kerosene.

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[–] • 1 pt

The price on Mantle Lamps has gone through the roof, I see. If you want one, I see them all the time at flea markets. Look for one that has a burner with a small knurled wick raiser knob (Model C) or an octagonal wick raiser knob (Model 23.) Those will be the most useful without replacing a burner. The last one I purchased was a pre-war green glass model for under a bill.

I don't have any experience with the current Max-Brite burners.

[–] • 1 pt

Good to know.

I don't have a lot of space to collect or display unfortunately. I'll have to dig out the lamp I have to see what kind of burner it has out of curiosity now. I don't think I paid more than 20 dollars for it. It isn't much to look at, but it works.

[–] • 1 pt

It's probably a #2 flat wick with a screw-top type burner. They're serviceable.