KEROSENE LAMP TEST

There has been much debate as to how much useable light is actually produced by various types of kerosene lamps. I don't have a lumen meter, so I decided to put my lamps to the test of a Weston Master V light meter, in a dark room, using #1 kero heating fuel (with a red dye) in all of them. Each lamp had the wick raised to produce the maximum light without sooting, and I held the light meter a foot away from each lamp. To make things fair, I averaged the results from at least 2 of each style of lamp or lantern, and I put a mirror or reflector behind the kerosene lamps, as the electric lamp used as a control had a reflector. I did not check the light output from my Aladdin lamps simply because prior experience has shown me that unpacking, lighting, then repacking the Aladdin's was sure to break an expensive mantle, so it wasn't worth it...sorry.

• 60 watt electric 9.0
• 100 watt electric 9.6
• Dietz (small) 7.5
• Lamplighter Farms 7.8
• Mason jar lamp 8.4
• Kosmos Consierge 8.8

(1) The mason jar lamp was the real surprise of the bunch. They appear to have a better oxygen intake system than the Lamplighter oil lamp burner units, and produce enough light to read by! A BEST BUY!!!

(2) The Kosmos lamps are cranky when burning kerosene and take awhile to react to changes in wick height, and the longer they burn the hotter the flame spreader gets, so they can be adjusted to produce more light after a half - hour or. The Kosmos lamps easily equal the effective output of a 60 watt electric light bulb after burning for awhile, and the light output is enough to read by.

(3)  The Kosmos lamps are NOT "cranky" if "Low Odor Mineral Spirits" are used for fuel, as the fuel is exceptionally clean burning.  In fact, the wick will not even appear to have been used!  The cause of the hard adjustment of a Kosmos #15 wick is because the wick gap is extremely thin, and the lack of a carbon buildup on the top of the wick eliminates the hard adjustment common when burning kerosene.  And, the light output is much better when using Low Odor Mineral Spirits.  For more information on this subject, please visit my web site www.milesstair.com/B_&_H_lamps.html . 

All your lamp wick needs can be found on my web site at www.milesstair.com/lamp_wicks.html .

Left to right:  Railroad type lantern; blue nightlight with 1/8" diameter round wick; Kosmos Consierge; Lamplighter Farms lamp; Czech wall lamp; and mason jar burner with #2 burner.

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