Oil or moderator lamps

Dear visitors, a brief explanation of oil lamps and some of the visible features of their inner workings.
As you may have noticed, when these lamps are electrified, they are generally fed from above, and this is not the result of a mistake by the master, but, on the contrary, a clear sign that the lamp, out of respect for its age, has retained all its original "complex inner world" and in particular its main component, the oil reservoir.
In this case, it is impossible to electrify the lamp from its base through the reservoir, which still contains fatty residues. This is why they are powered from the top.
Oil lamps (known as "moderator oil lamps") were produced from 1837 onwards, using rapeseed oil. This was useful and totally safe, but cleaning the lamps was very complicated. From 1853, with the arrival of petroleum, oil lamps were gradually replaced by kerosene lamps.
While oil lamps required a piston to raise the oil (hence the two adjusting screws at the top of the lamp, very characteristic of oil lamps), oil lamps required no piston at all. No piston was needed in the kerosene lamps that replaced them. This new, more liquid fuel rose by capillary action along the textile wick. Thus, the simpler kerosene lamp gradually replaced the oil lamp in the second half of the 19th century (which is why oil lamps do not go beyond the limits of the Napoleon III style, while kerosene lamps later acquired characteristics of other styles).
However, it is extremely rare to find lamps with intact reservoirs. Most of the time, the tank is no longer watertight, and unpleasant leaks are not uncommon.
In this case, there's only one solution, but it's really a specialist job, and that's to remove the tank. In this case, all parts are dismantled, cleaned and re-gilded (if they were gold-plated) and the lamp is reassembled, but this time with a power supply from the base.
This is much more rational and aesthetically pleasing.
Finally, the lamp can be fitted with its original glassware, if it still exists, or with a more contemporary shade.
In both cases, it has become a clean, useful, extremely decorative object, but one that's steeped in nearly 2 centuries of history.)

Restoration of moderator lamps.

When faced with a moderator lamp, there are at least two options, depending very much on the objective sought.
Try to restore it to its original state, and make it work as it did in the old days, with vegetable oil.
Or electrify it, retaining as many original components as possible.
Most of these elements are highly decorative.
Let's start with the lamp body, which can be made of earthenware, porcelain or metal.
This body contains the oil reservoir and the moderator mechanism.
Over time, the vegetable oil used has often corroded the reservoir, causing leaks.
When electrifying the lamp, it is possible to feed electricity directly into the top of the lamp, but this solution is not at all aesthetic and makes the lamp unstable.
Ideally, the power supply should be fed into the lamp via its base, but this is where the obstacles begin.
First, you have to pass through the reservoir and the moderator mechanism. It's not certain that the reservoir is completely empty (without oil or oil residue).

Then you have to reach the highest point and try to install a socket to receive the bulb.
The result is often very disappointing for a novice.
Sometimes we receive pairs of lamps that are supposed to be identical, but have been modified to make them different.
We have found technical solutions (as with chandeliers) and components that allow these lamps to be electrified safely, while preserving their beauty and authenticity.

Our principle when restoring lamps and chandeliers is to recreate the original look as far as possible, preserving as much of the original detail as possible. To achieve this, we have to invent hidden technical tricks in each individual case, in order to combine the antique appearance with modern safety and comfort requirements.

This is how the new life of antique lamps and chandeliers begins in our workshops.

I'm sure you've got some beautiful lamps in your home, but unfortunately they've had a bit of a rough ride. They certainly deserve much better! Contact us and send us some photos.