Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Antique tips: where to find hurricane lamp parts

Advice on locating new or replacement parts for hurricane lamps.

The beauty and ambiance of hurricane lighting takes us back to a simpler time. Decorative and functional, hurricane lamps were once a primary source of lighting in homes and businesses. Today, however, with the advent of electricity, they are often relegated to the “decorative” category. However, they can still perform their intended job quite admirably and there is nothing wrong with using them, as long as you do so safely. Even those really great old ones passed down in the family can be used. They are definitely handy in the event of a power outage, and cast a warm, soothing glow over a room, as opposed to electric lighting, which can sometimes be a little harsh.

It is fairly easy to locate replacement parts for most hurricane lamps, which is good news—considering how easy it is to crack the chimney, not to mention wicks need periodic replacement.

The most important part of any hurricane lamp is the base of the lamp, the part that holds the lamp oil. This is where most, if not all, of the design and decoration is located. Frankly, if this portion is ruined, it may be simpler just to go find a replacement for the entire lamp. If you are trying to make your own hurricane lamp, sometimes craft and hobby stores will carry the bases, in glass or ceramic, for you to decorate as you wish. With the prevalence of the Internet, parts can even be located online and ordered for delivery to your home




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