How the gas mantle made lamps 10X brighter

Hey! We found what “forced my lute” meant! Back in ye olde chemistry days, lute was a substance used to make seals between your various chemistry apparatus. So, Clayton was probably saying the 330 year old equivalent of “blew the seals” (or indeed, the pressure was sufficient to break the glass!). Oh, and somehow I missed pointing out when the Aladdin lamp was first produced. The trademark was obtained in 1908 and the first lamps went on sale in 1909. Also of note, one source claims lamps made after 1935 were technically side-draft designs, meaning air doesn’t actually travel through the center of the wick. So “central draft burner” as used in my script here might be considered a misnomer.

Thank you for gaslighting all of us.

This series has been illuminating.

I’m always stunned by the fact that arc lights, literal LIGHTNING in a tube, was invented before bulbs that just needs to get a filament hot

Lute, In Chemistry: it is a liquid clay or cement used to seal a joint, coat a crucible, or protect a graft. As for "protect a graft", again, in chemistry, it is referring to something like a long, thin, glass tube inserted through a hole made in the side of large glass beaker; the graft being that 'connection'. Whereas, again in chemistry, a "joint" is specifically where two ends are 'joined' together. Thus, the phrase, "...forced my lute", means that it broke through material that sealed and connected the 2-piece glass made item together.

You need a counter for "we'll get to that later" which counts up and then back down as you, well, get to those points later.

My 92-year-old mother who grew up without electricity knows all about these lamps. Matter of fact there was one left in The Farmhouse and when we had a power failure amazed how much light it puts out

There are still a lot (about 1750, I think) of gas lamps in London. They're scattered around Westminster and the city. Others that look alike have been fitted with electric lamps. A team of six people maintains them, which includes winding up the clockwork timer that opens and closes the valve. The mantles come from Germany.

22:45 I really appreciate you fully showing the carbon buildup disappearing. that was very satisfying

I always liked the German term for gas mantles. "Glühstrumpf" which literally translates as "glow stocking".

Please heed the safety instructions! The lamps must be monitored during use. DO NOT light and walk away, as the flame increases as the lamp heats. I did this once, lit, turned flame very low, got distracted, smoke alarms went off and red flame was roaring out the top of the chimney. The lamps are still used in rural areas, by the Amish, they tell me, and mantles, wicks and burner parts are sold in one local hardware. I collect them, they're fun to tinker with, a pain to trim the wicks, but fun to just turn off the lights and watch the lamp run.

The Coleman fabric mits reminds me of my childhood. Going camping using the propane lamp. I can still remember the hissing sound and bright light. The moths and other insects buzzing. The smell of the campfire.

“It forced my lute.” When devices were made that had pipes or other attachments added to them which need to be made air tight or pressure resistant, a paste of some sort was prepare and applied to the joint. This paste was referred to as “luting.” Moonshiners used a paste of barley or rye flour mixed with water.

"But here's a leaf blower" is going to be my consolation response from now on.

I was born in a farm cottage that was lit with “Aladdin” lamps (mid-1950s)…if I remember correctly my dad converted a couple into electric table lamps (these were ones with metal fuel tanks, so he drilled holes in them to run cables). They even had lampshades because the original light from the mantle was so white and harsh.

I was blown away 20-30 years ago, taking the family camping, I picked up a Coleman propane lantern and had to figure out how to tie those little mesh bags onto the pipes. I could not believe how bright that thing lit up and never understood it. It was so amazing, it's stuck in my memory to this day. Finally, today watching your video I get it. Kind of. Thanks!

We found an old mantle at our cabin once, it did surprise me that 1) It said it contained thorium 2) It was tied onto the lamp with an asbestos string 3) The instructions were to cut off the excess string with scissors

5:20 There are "gasometers" in my train simulator. For years I could not figure out what these were or how to use them. After all these years, I finally know what one is.

IN the 1960s, there were power strikes in the UK for three hours at a time. I was staying with my aunt in London at the time, in an old house which still had working gas fittings in some rooms, although they'd not been used since the 1930s, when electricity had been installed. With some difficulty, I found a shop still selling gas mantles and fitting them enabled us to continue with gas lighting during the power cuts. It was a pity that the TV wasn't a gas one, too, but we did have a battery-operated radio!

I am familiar with hurricane lanterns and Coleman lanterns, but I never heard of the Alladin variant. I've always wondered about how mantles actually work and what they are made of despite my using them numerous times. Thanks for your thorough and interesting video.