Candlelight for reading

[Norskie]

I confess I like to read as I fall asleep, even in camp. I need at least 3 candles to have enough light. Don't want to use a flashlight, as that conflicts with the atmosphere at a rondy.
I make my own candles with heavy wicks so they have flames 1 1/2" tall, and throw good light. I 'spearmented with mirror glass in the back of my candle lanterns and it didn't seem to help at all. :hmm:
Those of you that share my affliction; what do you do to get enough lumens (think that's the word) to read by?
Moose

 

[NORD]

Hi Leathermoose,

I bet a concaved piece of polished steel behind your candle would intensify the lumens. Just a thought...good luck!
:hatsoff:

Nord

 

[Homesteader]

I'm surprised the mirror didn't help. I often camp and read by a single candle lantern with a concave polished metal reflector behind it. Not the best, but it works. For me, anyway. For some books. With the lantern right in front of the page. At the right angle. Glasses. And a line at a time. And I do misread a lot. :haha:

Makes you really think about what it must've been like when most folk just had rush lamps, doesn't it? Gotta love modern lights!

 

[Old Salt]

I don't read much when I'm in camp but I have noticed that hanging a candle lantern higher seems to better illuminate the area.

Old Salt

 

[mikee51848]

I read a lot in my tent, using just one candle lantern with glass sides. I'm guessing that placement is your problem. I'll either hang it about 3 ft off the ground near my head, or set it on a crate "night table". So either way, it's no more than 2 feet from me. Make sure it's placed so it illuminates the page your reading.

 

[blacksmithman64]

There was a good chapter on primitive lighting in one of the books of buckskinning.

 

[MSzychulda]

You can use a lacemakers or cobblers lamp. Basically a glass globe of light oil or water is placed in front of the candle flame to focus the light. Some have 1-4 globes around one candle allowing many people to work around it.

A search may reveil the oil lamps, but there are several sources which show the candle version.

"Living History drawing on the past" by Cathy Johnson is a good resource for these.

My friend just took a round wine bottle and filled it with water for his. It is amazing how bright the focused light is.

 

[Slake]

I dunno if it's period correct or not {prolly not} but Campmor has a slick little candle lantern that has some of its own mirrors and reflectors. I love them. One candle burns for a long time, all night and it's pretty windproof if ya have it outside

 

[Patrick Hand]

Matts... That's realy cool.... do you know what period a lacemakers or cobblers lamp is from ?

 

[MSzychulda]

Sorry for the late reply. That actual lacemakers lamps/globes I have seen are dated around 1770's with most being around the 1800's. These we most common in England where the cottage industry of Lace Making was in place,

However reading journal entries I have found possible mention of these to around 1660. See here from "The Diary of Samuel Pepys"

I went to Mr. Greatorex, where I met him, and so to an alehouse, where I bought of him a drawing-pen; and he did show me the manner of the lamp-glasses, which carry the light a great way, good to read in bed by, and I intend to have one of them.
[url] http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1660/10/24/index.php[/url]

You can also find some good examples and some for sale at these links:
[url] http://lace.lacefairy.com/Gallery/LaceLamps.html[/url]
great history and engravings
[url] http://goosebay-workshops.com/Historic-Presentations-by-Peter-Goebel[/url]
[url] http://www.dkiempire.com/Secure/smilingfox/details.asp?id=183[/url]
[url] http://www.briangoodwin[/url].co.uk/page2.html

I have some more pictures and journal entries i will try to gather up and put here for you when i get a chance. Matt

 

I know of one vender that sells the mirrored candle lanterns.

lantern with one mirror-$25

2 mirrors= $30

3 mirrors= $40

4 mirrors= $1,000

 

[BRUN]

I tried this with a jar of water and it worked great.Realy puts a beam of light out .

 

[Norskie]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Thinking about this over the weekend, I came up with the idea of making a reflector out of whitened rawhide to stand behind my candlesticks.
That lacemaker's lamp is really cool. Got to try to make one of those, but one of my goals is to lighten the load I take to rondys, so if it's going to heavier than my current rig, I'll use it at home.
Thanks again,
Moose

 

[spudnut]

I use a cot in my tent and a folding table next to it with just a candle thats higher than me on the bed..works OK......mark

 

[redriverclerk]

You could use a lamp-oil hurricane. Whale oil and other types were period-correct, and the lamp-oil "globe" has been around forever. Granted, it wasn't lamp oil they used, but in the interest of safety...

I use them next to my bed when I need to take my contacts out at night (which is always WAY after dark!) They shed great light.