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Post by brokennock on Oct 18, 2019 17:22:48 GMT -7
So, I just scrolled through the 18th Century Material Resource Center slide show on "lighting-fire starting- candles." Like so many of the other pdf files I have downloaded of theirs, great pics, but little to no explanation of how items worked were used.
There are 2 pictures of a brass "lighter" attributed to the Dutch between 1700 and 1750. Anyone know how it works?
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Post by brokennock on Oct 18, 2019 17:40:50 GMT -7
No, it looks on the outside, like a large brass modern lighter. Like a big fancy Zippo. Inside, totally different.
I forgot to add to my original post, and the reason I put the post here, does anyone know a good way to get more info about the items they show pictures of?
It seems a great resource if you just want to know what something looked like. But, it doesn't really let you know how common an item was. Or how an item worked.
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Post by Black Hand on Oct 18, 2019 17:49:43 GMT -7
You might be able to do an image search IF you can download the picture to your computer. They do make it very difficult to get any of the info out of the slides... Link to the slide show - www.scribd.com/document/239232659/Lighting-Fire-Starting-Candles, Slide #60 & 61 The oddly-shaped piece on the left could be a frizzen of some sort and the handle to the right the flint holder/striker. It would be helpful to have a couple more views of the piece on the right. The depression likely held the char/tinder.  |
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Post by Black Hand on Oct 18, 2019 18:20:43 GMT -7
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Post by brokennock on Oct 18, 2019 18:26:14 GMT -7
Pretty cool, thanks. It would appear your assessment was accurate. I wonder what went in the hole below the "frizzen" that makes it more of a "lighter" than the previously shown "tinder lighters" that look more like a pistol lock? What would happen if one had put a little lamp oil (whale oil?) In the hole with a wick? Would the sparks from the flint and steam be enough to ignite the oil/wick?
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Post by Black Hand on Oct 18, 2019 18:33:53 GMT -7
As it is a pocket lighter, adding oil would be messy. I suspect it was used for tinder or char...
I wouldn't put much stock in the name some antique dealer gave the item, as it could be misleading. The name just starts us down the path by giving a clue to its function. This item and the pistol type seem to function in a similar manner, just with different shapes - this pocket lighter must have a spring hidden under the brass cover and the button probably serves as the "trigger" to activate the mechanism.
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Oct 18, 2019 19:13:42 GMT -7
Pretty cool, thanks. It would appear your assessment was accurate. I wonder what went in the hole below the "frizzen" that makes it more of a "lighter" than the previously shown "tinder lighters" that look more like a pistol lock? What would happen if one had put a little lamp oil (whale oil?) In the hole with a wick? Would the sparks from the flint and steam be enough to ignite the oil/wick? I agree with Black Hand, this is just another tinderlighter. Tinder/charred cloth would have been placed in the hole below the hammer. This however is not the sort of item woodsrunners would have carried, their tinderbox & the lock of their gun would have been ample. Keith. |
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