Camp Light

[jbtusa]

...Tired of stumbling around in the dark. What did the mountain men of the Rockies of the 1810-1840's period use for camp lighting? Did they use oil/kerosene lamps, candle lanterns? And, where is a good source for said lighting?

 

[atki]

I saw a program a few years ago about the mtn men. For the most part is was just ok. However, they had guy from a museum showing mtn man gear. He had a cool light. It looked like a tin cup. The tinder and stuff was in the cup. The cup had a lid with a holder in the center for a candle.

That was it. no globe, just a candle on top of a tin cup with a lid.

WB

 

[necchi]

These are pretty popular around here; http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Cate...d=17&subId=113&styleId=432&partNum=LANTERN-PK

If yer handy you can make one or two, You can scroll around that link a bit and see tin ones too, But any tin ones that are closed throw darn little light.
I put a mirror piece in one of the four sides, works handy in a corner then. I pack 2, one fer inside, one fer out an carryin on evening visits.
Tried the oil lamp thing like many do,,but they's a PITA to pack.

Theres the "Betty Lamp" or sometimes called a gripe Lamp; http://www.google.com/search?q=bet...ox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGIH
,used animal fat's/lard, that make more sence for what they might have carried, but they get too smoking and sooty if used with true animal fat. Otherwise I think they just went to bed when "Can't see" and woke up when "Can see". :wink:

 

[LRB]

I would say betty lamp, or most often the campfire. Maybe a candle, if really necessary for an occasional need. Why carry more than you really feel you have to have? If you are doing rendevous', then you use what is allowed. If you want to do living history, then the first answer.

 

[Woods Dweller]

The "Betty Lamp" was the common light source. All that is needed is cotton cord for wick (old shirt)
And animal fat as fuel.

Another source of light would have come from a torch”¦ http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/lights/torches.html



I would like to add that as people, we have become very dependent on elect light and our eyes are not
Accustom to darkness. If you spend a week or more in the woods, you will notices how hard it is to see in the dark when you start, then after about a week you will notices that you will see much better in the dark.

I knew a guy that in Vietnam he always went out on night Patrol and during the day he wore very dark sun glasses. The things he could see at night amazed me!

 

[necchi]

", we have become very dependent on elect light and our eyes are not
Accustom to darkness"

So true, esp when after dinner you sit around a camp fire and stare into the flames, a common habit,,

 

[Sunkmanitu Tanka]

Like Wick Ellerbe says ... the campfire! I walk around near the campground and I collect stumps from broken off branches from dead pine trees. With the back of a camp axe I knock these stumps from the tree and collecty them. These little stumps collect a lot of pine tar in them and when you put them in your fire it will nocticeble burn brighter... Just try it out one time - does not cost penney! I was told it was a Canadian Native trick.... :thumbsup:

 

[Bearbait2]

Mr. Sunkmanitu Tanka,
Thanks for the tip. We have a LOT of Spruce around here. Will give it a try.
Best Wishes

 

[Sunkmanitu Tanka]

:thumbsup:
You are very welcome!

 

[Woods Dweller]

Also, the center of an old rotting fallen pine tree has a core that is full of pine tar/pitch.
Cut these cores about 2foot long, then split them about ¼ inch thick, tie about 5 or 6 of these longer splinters together and they make a very good torch. Each splinter helps keep each other burning, even in a good wind. I have had to stick the fire end on this torch into the ground in order to put it out. [Cant blow it out]

 

[spudnut]

Early to bed, early to rise. :wink:

 

[Black Hand]

The campfire. I presume that if they were lucky they might have had a candle. Lanterns- maybe and oil lamps- unlikely.

If you allow your eyes to acclimate, you'd be surprised how much light there actually is at night with the moon out...

 

[Hawken Dan]

Try here:
http://vbwhiz.isa-geek.net/plans/

then left hand side menu...Miscellaneous / Primitive Candle Lantern

 

[wetpowder]

Thank you for the link, Sir. :v

 

[Poor Private]

All this talk of light, while using a campfire. Guess what a camp fire ruins your night vision. The only time I have a camp fire is when I cook, and a very small one at that, I ain't cooking a side of beef. I don't understand the reasoning I guess of each tent having a roaring fire that touches the sky,m and enough cast iron to build a skyscraper You wasted lots of time gathering wood, and then tending the fire, then you got to put the bugger out when you go to bed(for safety reason). Then start it up all over again. when:
1. a small candle is all you need.
2. Better use of the time would be talking to your camp mates than running around looking for that piece of wood to keep the fire going or starting one.
3. Night time is for sleeping(unless your taking that dreaded walk in the middle of the night). Bed at dark, up with the sun.
4.

 

[necchi]

Ya theres truth to all that poorprivate, but folks do like camp fires at rondys. We've kinda let the big fire go by the wayside now that the boy's grown. Like you say, enough for cookin is gud nuff.
I've known one group for years and they still dig a 3'x4' pit and keep throwing logs on it all day an half the night, kinda wastefull. Can bother ya if your a sponser Club member and spent a weekend cutting and splitting wood for the rendezvous, just to watch someone burn up a 1/4 cord for no good reason, :idunno:

Don't remember why, but I usta pack 4-5 of them candle lanterns, an even tried oil lamps, now I have just 2, one fer inside and one fer out.

 

[Sunkmanitu Tanka]

We had the same problem with people just wastin' the wood for which we worked so hard ... We solved it very easily ... People could come and get 1/2 a cord of wood just for lets say 3 dollars... Just the thought that they paid for it made them stretch their wood a lot longer ... Finally there was enough wood for everybody and secondly the club gained (a little) cash for the efforts made... Nobody was obliged to buy wood, you could gather it for free yourself in the woods, or bring some from home.... Worked out fine for everybody.

 

[Josh Smith]

...Tired of stumbling around in the dark. What did the mountain men of the Rockies of the 1810-1840's period use for camp lighting? Did they use oil/kerosene lamps, candle lanterns? And, where is a good source for said lighting?

Hi JBT,

There is a term, "light a shuck." Mostly it's heard as "light a shuck out of here" or something to that effect.

The original meaning was to light a dried corn shuck to light one's way from one fire to the next.

Another method used was the old fat lamps in clay or similar bowls - not much changed from the prehistoric days. Melt some fat (or beeswax - that's what I use) and drop in a piece of cotton patch. Light the cotton. Beeswax smells good like this, a bit like honey.

A modern twist I use on this is in large Citronella candles, I will add a piece of cotton shirt for a larger flame, which extends the range of keeping skeeters away. I've had glass bowls overheat and break like this though, so be careful.

Mostly I prefer a darker camp though. A small fire provides plenty of warmth if you have your back to a shear face as you should. It's more efficient and, as was mentioned, night vision is ruined by large fires.

Hope this helps,

Josh