Oil lamps and lanterns were made for many different jobs. A ship needed lights that could be seen at sea in all weather, a cyclist needed a lamp that stayed lit on a bumpy road, and a miner needed light underground. Each use had its own requirements, and that is why a ship’s lantern, a bicycle lamp and a railway lantern look and work so differently.

On these pages I describe the main types of lamps: what they were used for, how they worked, and how they changed over time. Some types have a single page; others are larger subjects with several guides grouped under one entry page. The pages are based on lamps from my own collection, on original catalogues, advertisements and patents, my own research and on research by fellow collectors, with sources credited throughout.

For the history of the companies that made these lamps, see Manufacturer History. If you have anything to add, correct, or ask about, please get in touch.