Solar stand lamp burning mineral oil

This is one of a pair of lamps manufactured by Henry N. Hooper & Co. of Boston Massachusetts and now owned by the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, New York. They were purchased for use on the pulpit of the church that is located at the south end of the museum's village green.

The lamps had long ago been converted to burn kerosene and the museum wanted them restored to their original oil-burning state. Before restoration could start, all work related to the kerosene conversion had to be reversed. In years past, whenever an old lamp underwent a fuel conversion all of the original internal parts were removed and discarded. This was the case with these lamps thus making it necessary to reconstruct the spiral tube and entire wick holder/adjustment assembly using brass castings made from molds that had, in turn, been made from various parts of old lamps. Since the wicks, chimneys, and shades (globes) needed for these lamps are not commercially available, it was necessary to locate and work with artisans who had the skills to make them. The scope of this commission did not include the refinishing of the lamp's surfaces.

Solar stand lamp, without shade, burning mineral oil