Sherwood Ltd. Was a manufacturer of oil lamps and burners at the Nechells Park Works Birmingham UK and regarded at the time as a renowned name in the oil lamp and burner manufacturing industries in Birmingham during the early part of the 20th century. They started selling as ‘Isaac Sherwood & Son Ltd.’ in 1904, later around 1920 they merged with Linley and Co makers of American pattern lamps and became ‘Sherwood-Linley” moving to 44-50, Granville St. Birmingham. They became one of the largest manufacturers of lighting devices and burners in England. They produced all sorts of illumination devices and became famous for their oil burners. Apart from oil burners, they produced table and floor lamps, sconces, lanterns and chandeliers that made Sherwood unique. A Significant item as part of a kerosene lamp that was commonplace in homes and other premises during the early 20th century as a means of lighting before electric lighting became the standard. These types of items give a snapshot into domestic and social life during this period.Lamp Burner housing, brass with wick-screw (no wick). Made in England Sherwoods LTD Birminghamwarrnambool, flagstaff-hill, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lamp burner, sconces, kerosene lamp, wick adjuster, sherwood & son ltd, sherwood-linley

Bradley and Hubbard established their company in 1852 in Meriden, Connecticut when Nathaniel and William Bradley, Orson and Chitten Hatch, and Walter Hubbard, formed Bradley, Hatch & Company. This incarnation of the company only manufactured clocks. The Hatch brothers sold their interest in the company in 1854 and it was renamed, Bradley & Hubbard. Clocks remained the firm's primary product into the 1860s. In addition to their line of clocks, Bradley & Hubbard also produced a wide range of household items including match safes, call bells, andirons, urns, bookends, frames, desk accessories and vases. Technological advances in drilling and refining crude oil in the late 1850s and early 1860s paved the way for the demise of whale oil as lamp fuel. Soon after Colonel Edwin Drake struck oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania on August 27, 1859, Nathaniel Bradley saw an opportunity to capitalize on the future of this new fuel. Nathaniel decided to produce an extensive line of kerosene burning lamps this proved to be a wise business decision. Kerosene was soon to become a widely used, safe and relatively inexpensive lamp fuel. Between April 7, 1868, and December 23, 1913, the company was listed as the assignee for at least 89 lighting patents. Many of these patents were for lamp and chandelier designs and various improvements in lamp burners. In 1875 the company reorganized to form the Bradley and Hubbard Manufacturing Company. Walter Hubbard served as President and Nathaniel Bradley as Treasurer. The firm enjoyed rapid growth throughout the 1880s. By 1888, the company employed over one thousand workers and had showrooms in major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago. One of the most prolific of the B&H products was the Rayo lamp it produced under contract for Standard Oil. In keeping with the changing times, Bradley & Hubbard produced a variety of electric lamps as well. Walter Hubbard passed away in 1911 and Nathaniel Bradley in 1915. The company continued through the 1930s and was purchased by the Charles Parker Company, also of Meriden, Connecticut, in 1940. The Parker Company was quite diversified in its product line, also producing an extensive line of lamps and high-end chandeliers. Parker operated its acquisition as the "Bradley & Hubbard Division." Parker ceased production of the Rayo lamp in the early 1950s. In 1973, the Bradley and Hubbard buildings were demolished, effectively ending that chapter in American lighting manufacture.Early innovation in kerosene lamp burner design by Bradley and Hubbard lamp manufacturers who at the turn of the 20th century were the biggest lamp producers in the world. The item is significant due to its historic connection with a major innovator of lamp design.Lamp Burner, metal container with turning screw for wick and mesh walls. Is made in 2 parts. Raised embossing on wick adjustment screw " PAT APPLIED FOR" on top of burner "B & H Patented.July.1.90.Nov.20.94"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, bradley & hubbard manufacturing company, kerosene lamp burner, early lighting

A flat-wick lamp is a simple type of kerosene lamp, which burns kerosene drawn up through a wick by capillary action. A flat-wick lamp has a fuel tank (fount), with the lamp burner attached. Four prongs hold the glass chimney, which acts to prevent the flame from being blown out and enhances a thermally induced draft. The glass chimney needs a "throat," or slight constriction, to create the proper draft for complete combustion of the fuel; the draft carries more air (oxygen) past the flame, helping to produce a smokeless light which is brighter than that produced by an open flame. The lamp burner has a flat wick, usually made of cotton. The lower part of the wick dips into the fount and absorbs the kerosene; the top part of the wick extends out of the wick tube of the lamp burner, which includes a wick-adjustment mechanism. Adjusting how much of the wick extends above the wick tube controls the flame. The wick tube surrounds the wick, and ensures that the correct amount of air reaches the lamp burner. Adjustment is usually done by means of a small knob operating a toothed, metal sprocket bearing against the wick. A paraffin lamp with a green metal base to hold fuel with a side screw to adjust wick length. An opaque white glass shield sits in a metal frame attached to base* moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, pioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, lights, lamps, paraffin, oil lamps

This lamp pattern was originally made in USA between 1880 and 1900. The pattern is called Feathered Cartouche and generally had a painted motif on each of the panels on the front. This lamp is probably a copy of the American lamp and made in Australia sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The lamp has an English style collar rather than an American one and the pattern is not as crisp as the American ones. There were several lamp patterns made here that were copies of American patterns and that style of collar was used on most of them. (ref Oil Lamp Antiques)This item is an important example of the early technology of artificial light. It has historical significance in demonstrating lighting devices used before the widespread use of electricity.Ornate clear glass kerosene lamp. Glass chimney is missing. Base is square and patterned with raised oval shapes, as is the stem. Both base and stem are hollow. At the top, the kerosene holder is squarish with round corners.. The wick holder is of brass and has a small wick adjustor.lamp, kerosene lamp, lighting - domestic

Used by donor's parents in their home in Croydon in the 1950s.Glass kerosene lamp. Consists of base and the bowl for kerosene. Base has a wrinkled finish. Bowl has a metal holder for the wick and its adjuster. Chimney is missing and is to be purchased.lighting, kerosene & oil, glass technology, glassware

The period when kerosene was extensively used for indoor lighting was before electrical reticulation was installed in rural areas. In remote areas this was up to the mid 1900's. The kerosene lantern however was still in use, for camping and outdoor activities, well beyond this period and was eventually replaced by LPG and battery powered lighting. The transition phase to "modern" outdoor and domestic lighting lingered on the rural areas where the electrical reticulation suffered from reliable constant supply.In the Kiewa Valley, being a rural region, had reliable electrical domestic and farm supply only after the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme had been fully operational. The supply was relative to how close the homestead was to the major electricity substation. This kerosene lamp was in use during the period when it was the only reliable source of domestic night time lighting. The strength of refractive light produced by this lantern/lamp hinged upon the size of the lamp(wick and glass bowl). The small size of this lamp suggests that it was for use in a small room(children's bedroom) or as providing a light for a safe walk to the outside ablutions (toilet) area. This small kerosene lamp has an enclosed "cup" body which would have contained the kerosene fuel. The top wick holder, made from brass, has an extended enclosed spout which raises the wick approximately 20mm from the bottom of the holder. The wick holder screws into the the top of the kerosene reservoir bowl and has a wick adjustment screw (light control) at one side. The small white glass light reflector bulb nestles securely onto the wick holder and is kept snug by snap designed extending "fingers". The section between the bottom of the refractive glass "light" bowl and the top of the kerosene bowl has perforations to allow air passage to feed directly to the wick.The light refracting bulb is open at the top to allow heat and smoke from the burning wick to escape upwards.On the wick control screw "CWB BRITISH MADE"kerosene reading lamp, domestic lighting, bedside light

This is a removable bicycle lantern probably dating from the first half of the 20th Century. It is a carbide lamp which was a popular form of lighting, particularly in rural areas. This item has no known local provenance but is retained as it is a good example of an early bicycle lamp.This is a brass and steel bicycle lamp. It has a circular glass front, a mechanism for attaching the lamp to the bicycle, a lighting adjustable wick and two glass panels on the side, one green and one red. There is a label with the manufacturer's name on the side. POWELL & HANMER "KINGFISHER" MAKERS, BIRMINGHAMvintage lighting, powell and hanmer

Early Settlers used candles and lamps as their source of light after sunset. This lamp, uses a flat wick immersed in kerosene or oil, contained in the bulbous reservoir, with a side screw to adjust the flame enclosed in a glass, open top shield.A flat wick kerosene lamp. The knob protruding to the right adjusts the wick, and hence the flame size. This lamp has a plain blue glass shade -chimney with a fluted rim, blue glass geometrically engraved reservoir and a circular brass base early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, ormond, mckinnon, lighting, lamps, kerosene, paraffin, oil

Hand-held kerosene lamps were introduced in the late 1800s for lighting homes prior to the introduction of electricity. This lamp was used in the Bridge Hotel during early European settlement and migration to the area.This lamp is the only example of domestic lighting within the collection. It belongs to the objects relating to the interpretation of Echuca's Bridge Hotel, built by European founder Henry Hopwood.Ornate pressed metal base (4 sided) with floral design. Featuring a ribbed blue glass fuel fount, a four-pronged metal carrier (that would hold a flat cotton wick) with small circular knob (a mechanism for adjusting the wick) and a bulbous clear glass chimney with decorative scalloped edge.lamp, glass, blue glass, kerosene, flat wick, 1800s

Wall-mounted kerosene lanterns revolutionized home lighting in the mid-19th century, following Ignacy Łukasiewicz’s 1853 invention of the modern kerosene lamp. They provided a bright, safe alternative to whale oil, using glass chimneys and metal reflectors (often on wall brackets) to illuminate rooms and railway guard’s vans until rural electrification in the 1940s. A vintage tin wall mounted kerosene lamp for use to light the home in the 1900's. It has a shaped back support without a mounted circular reflector. At the front there is a kerosene container with an adjustable turning wick. A glass chimney would have covered the wick to stop the flame from blowing out. There are four metal clips to support the chimney.lamps, lighting equipment, argand lamps, kerosene lamps, wall lamps

Brought to Australia by Dutch migrants in the 1950s. Used for slow cooking of dishes such as soups and stews.Cream enamel with green upper rim. Three-legged. Consists of two circular compartments, the lower one of which is the kerosene tank. Adjustable wick in holder attached to a handle with which the wick can be raised and lowered. Spare wick in tank. Upper compartment has small brass porthole with glass centre through which to monitor flame. Inside bottom of upper compartment there is a longitudinal slit within an oval raised section. Perforations around slit for ventilation. Steel trivet on top has five pointed star pattern. household item

Wall-mounted kerosene lanterns revolutionized home lighting in the mid-19th century, following Ignacy Łukasiewicz’s 1853 invention of the modern kerosene lamp. They provided a bright, safe alternative to whale oil, using glass chimneys and metal reflectors (often on wall brackets) to illuminate rooms and railway guard’s vans until rural electrification in the 1940s. A vintage cream coloured tin wall mounted kerosene lamp for use to light the home in the 1900's. It has a shaped back support with a mounted circular reflector attached to a slide in slot. At the front there is a kerosene container with an adjustable turning wick. A glass chimney would have covered the wick to stop the flame from blowing out. There are four metal clips to support the chimney.lamps, lighting equipment, argand lamps, kerosene lamps, wall lamps

This particular lamp was made for the dinner table or "parlour". This was the most effective indoor lighting before electrical lighting was introduced in the 1940's. These table lights would have still been used after this time as emergency lighting during electrical power shortages (outages). These emergency lighting lamps, including candles, were eventually replaced by battery power. The Kiewa Valley was supplied by electricity well before many other rural regions due to the State Electricity Commission constructing the Kiewa Hydro Electricity power turbines (late 1930's to mid 1950's). Petrol and diesel generators were used in other rural regions before state wide electricity was available.The significance of this kerosene lamp to the Kiewa Valley is that it provides the proof that before the Hydro electricity scheme was established in the valley, householder and commerce relied on candle/kerosene power. Although at certain times before battery and solar energy became the night time lighters the sole source of lighting was candle power and kerosene power. The supply of both however was still required by most of the population by supply from city and larger country town suppliers. This nearly fully glass made table lamp(kerosene) has a large glass bowl/basin like kerosene storage unit with a glass circular finger handle (similar to a ordinary cup). Formed single star like patterns (50mm apart) encircle the centre of the bowl. On top of the bowl sits the metal (brass) wick holder with a small wheel protruding out one side for adjusting the wick length(increasing or decreasing the strength(regulating) of the amount of light projected. Four prongs rise from the circular base light fixture holding the windproof and refractive glass "pot belly" shield. lamp table, kerosene lamp, household lighting (non electrical)

This is a typical example of a flat wick domestic paraffin lamp used in households prior to the introduction of electricity.A flat-wick lamp is a simple type of paraffin lamp, which burns paraffin drawn up through a wick by capillary action. A flat-wick lamp has a fuel tank (fount), with the lamp burner attached. Attached to the fuel tank, four prongs hold the glass chimney, which acts to prevent the flame from being blown out and enhances a thermally induced draft. The glass chimney needs a "throat", or slight constriction, to create the proper draft for complete combustion of the fuel; the draft carries more air (oxygen) past the flame, helping to produce a smokeless light, which is brighter than an open flame would produce. The wick holder has holes around the outer edges. When the lantern is lit and a chimney is attached, the thermally induced draft draws air through these holes and passes over the top of the wick. This has a cooling effect and keeps the wick from over heating. The lamp burner has a flat wick, made of cotton. The lower part of the wick dips into the fount and absorbs the paraffin; the top part of the wick extends out of the wick tube of the lamp burner, which includes a wick-adjustment mechanism. Adjusting how much of the wick extends above the wick tube controls the flame. The wick tube surrounds the wick and ensures that the correct amount of air reaches the lamp burner. Adjustment is usually done by means of a small knob operating a cric, which is a toothed metal sprocket bearing against the wick. If the wick is too high, and extends beyond the burner cone at the top of the wick tube, the lamp will produce smoke and soot (unburned carbon). When the lamp is lit, the paraffin that the wick has absorbed burns and produces a clear, bright, yellow flame. As the paraffin burns, capillary action in the wick draws more kerosene up from the fuel tank. All paraffin flat-wick lamps use the dead-flame burner design, where the flame is fed cold air from below, and hot air exits above. (Source: Wikipedia accessed 24 Nov 2023) This lantern has a circular heavy green glass base for holding the paraffin. The base has a 12mm green glass handle. There is a small clear glass chimney with a fluted upper edge and some bubbles in the glass. The metal burner and wick holder has four metal prongs to hold the glass chimney in place. The round metal wick winder is functioning. There is a small amount of residual paraffin in the base. The flat wick is made of cotton.There are no markings to indicate the manufacturer.paraffin lamp, flat wick lamp, domestic lantern

Pittock coach builder's box: Old railway lamp, marked origin unknown, probably belonging to A. E. Pittock * stored in paper bag as detailed, refer 13000.44a * steel, glass construction * lamp is 310 mm tall, 150 mm round * lamp has three adjustable filters ( red / broken, blue and space for third (clear!) lens, which are set by rotating the handle to fixed loacations * lamp lit by kerosene wick, refer 13000.44e & f, brass container with mirror behind wick to intensify the light Item stored in Pittock coach builkder's box, reference 13000.1.

One of the most common centre draft kerosene lamps one can find in the USA and Canada is the Rayo. Large and sturdy, simple to use, but also notorious for being a fuel hog. This lamp was made by Bradley and Hubbard Metalworks in Chicago also Bradley and Hubbard made the “Perfection” brand lamps that look like the Rayo and are pretty much the same lamp with all parts interchangeable. The Rayo was given away to customers for free as a promotional item by the Standard Oil Company. The lamp’s huge appetite for fuel meant a hefty increase in sales of kerosene for the company and increased profits. The Rayo is a classic centre draft lamp that uses a widely available tubular wick that measures 62mm flat. It employs a simple and reliable mechanism for securing wicks in the burner along with a brass tube with many small teeth at its end. The tube is attached to the toothed rack that’s moved up and down by the adjuster knob. This type of lamp was used in most households and on rural properties before the introduction of electricity and is an early example of a promotional. The lamp was given away to customers of Kerosene oil as a means of increasing the Standard Oil Company sales of Kerosene during the late19th to early 20th century.Kerosene Lamp, side lifting arm to light.Inscribed "Rayo" and "Made in the USA"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, kerosene lamp, lighting, hurricane lamp, storm lamp, rayo ltd

The kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may used for portable lighting. There are three types of kerosene lamp: traditional flat wick, central draught (tubular round wick), and mantle lamp. The screws on the side adjust the flame and hence the strength of the flame produced. Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps provided lighting in all householdsPioneers and early settlers in Moorabbin Shire relied on kerosene lamps for lighting their homes after sunset.This kerosene, flat wick, banquet lamp has a clear glass shade chimney with a frilled rim, a reservoir of plain yellow glass and a metal engraved base . 1 side screw to adjust the flamelights, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham. lamps, kerosene, paraffin, oil

The kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may used for portable lighting. There are three types of kerosene lamp: traditional flat wick, central draught (tubular round wick), and mantle lamp. The side screws adjust the length of the wick and hence the strength of the flame / light produced. Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps provided light in households after sunset.Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps provided light after sunset for the early settlers, as they established their farms and businesses, in Moorabbin Shire.A Victorian kerosene banquet lamp, with a gilded metal quad footed base, cranberry glass oil reservoir with geometric patterns, original etched, yellow, glass globe shade and clear glass chimney. There are 2 side screws for adjusting the flame.early settlers. pioneers, follett w, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, ormond, market gardeners, kerosene, paraffin, lights, lamps, candles

The kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may used for portable lighting. There are three types of kerosene lamp: traditional flat wick, central draught (tubular round wick), and mantle lamp. The side screws adjust the length of the wick and hence the strength of the flame/light produced. Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps were used for lighting in all households after sunsetPioneers and early settlers relied on kerosene lamps for lighting their homes after sunset.A 19th Century kerosene chamber lamp, with clear, plain glass shade and reservoir, circular metal base and 1 side screw for adjusting the flameearly settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, ormond, cheltenham, candles, lights, lamps, kerosene, paraffin, oil

One of the most common centre draft kerosene lamps one can find in the USA and Canada is the Rayo. Large and sturdy, simple to use, but also notorious for being a fuel hog. This lamp was made by Bradley and Hubbard Metalworks in Chicago also Bradley and Hubbard made the “Perfection” brand lamps that look like the Rayo and are pretty much the same lamp with all parts interchangeable. The Rayo was given away to customers for free as a promotional item by the Standard Oil Company. The lamp’s huge appetite for fuel meant a hefty increase in sales of kerosene for the company and increased profits. The Rayo is a classic centre draft lamp that uses a widely available tubular wick that measures 62mm flat. It employs a simple and reliable mechanism for securing wicks in the burner along with a brass tube with many small teeth at its end. The tube is attached to the toothed rack that’s moved up and down by the adjuster knob.This type of lamp was used in most households and on rural properties before the introduction of electricity and is an early example of a promotional. The lamp was given away to customers of Kerosene oil as a means of increasing the Standard Oil Company sales of Kerosene during the late19th to early 20th century.Lamp of metal without shade. Mantle burner, plated light metal base. Ornate shade holder. Broken glass.Marked "Rayo Junior"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, lamp, mantle lamp, metal lamp, lighting, oil lamp, bradley & hubbard

This trade mark (V inside a clover) was German. It was used by the lamp makers Veritas Efsca Works in Birmingham, and for a time by Valor Co. Ltd. which took over Veritas. Valor Co. Ltd. was established in Birmingham in 1890 and produced oil containers for the Anglo-American Oil Com. In 1901 the firm advertised themselves as Stampers And Pieces. Later it was named 'The Valor Co. and was associated with the Aston Brass Co., and advertised as makers of oil lamps and stoves. Valor became a maker of oil heaters cookers and many other products that were fueled by oil. Later it sold gas heaters and ovens. In 1936 Valor Co. Ltd. was made a Public Company and operated under the name The Velor Company Ltd. The company changed names over the years and it was still operating under Velor Fires in January 2002.Oil or kerosene lamps were the means of lighting for homes, farms and industry in the late 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries. Lamps like these were important as Lighthouse Keepers and Assistant Keepers' equipment. They were in common use in until the lighting was powered by gas and electricity. The reflector at the back of the lamp makes it of greater significance as most lamps don't have this feature. The logo is also interesting as it originated in Germany and was used with permission by a British company and the company that brought it out for a short time. Similar lamps are still available today, usually with gas for fuel. Kerosene lamp; blue painted metal fuel can and metal rear reflector support. and a round corrugated reflector at the rear. The mid-section wick is made of brass. The glass cover or chimney is bulbous in shape. Inscriptions include a trademark "V" inside a clover. It is British-made in Birmingham by either Veritas Efsca Works or Veritas Valor.Trademark; "[clover symbol] surrounding a "V" Stamp: "BRITISH MADE" Marked on adjusting device: "English Made 1 in w" Marked on support of deflector shield - "British Made" and symbolwarrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, oil lamp, table lamp, kerosene lamp, valor co. ltd, v inside a clover, veritas, british made, lamp reflector, lighting, lamp, the valor company ltd

One of the most common centre draft kerosene lamps one can find in the USA and Canada is the Rayo. Large and sturdy, simple to use, but also notorious for being a fuel hog. This lamp was made by Bradley and Hubbard Metalworks in Chicago also Bradley and Hubbard made the “Perfection” brand lamps that look like the Rayo and are pretty much the same lamp with all parts interchangeable. The Rayo was given away to customers for free as a promotional item by the Standard Oil Company. The lamp’s huge appetite for fuel meant a hefty increase in sales of kerosene for the company and increased profits. The Rayo is a classic centre draft lamp that uses a widely available tubular wick that measures 62mm flat. It employs a simple and reliable mechanism for securing wicks in the burner along with a brass tube with many small teeth at its end. The tube is attached to the toothed rack that’s moved up and down by the adjuster knob. This type of lamp was used in most households and on rural properties before the introduction of electricity and is an early example of a promotional. The lamp was given away to customers of Kerosene oil as a means of increasing the Standard Oil Company sales of Kerosene during the late19th to early 20th century.Kerosene Lamp, side lifting arm to light.Inscribed "Rayo" and "Made in the USA"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, kerosene lamp, lighting, hurricane lamp, storm lamp, rayo ltd

The College’s spray was one of the first pieces of surgical memorabilia to come into the possession of the College. It had been used in the Listerian wards of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and was presented , along with some other artefacts, by James Hogarth Pringle in 1930. Joseph Lister (1827-1912) is known as a father of modern surgery. His methods of preventing infection were controversial in their time, but are today recognized as a major advance in the practice of surgery. Lister’s life and achievements are too well known to be recounted here. The definitive biography was written by his nephew, Sir Rickman Godlee (PRCSE 1911-13), and published in 1917. Douglas Guthrie gives an glimpse of Lister at work: “...He never wore a white gown and frequently did not even remove his coat, but simply rolled back his sleeves and turned up his coat collar to protect his starched collar from the cloud of carbolic spray in which he operated...” From advances in bacteriology, and discoveries by Robert Koch and others, it became increasingly evident that airborne bacteria were not a significant contributor to sepsis in surgical wounds. They also demonstrated that the body had its own defences against invading organisms, which were seriously compromised by the effects of the carbolic spray. Gradually the use of the spray was curtailed, Lister himself finally abandoning it in 1887. Lister performed the first antiseptic operation, the dressing and splintage of a compound fracture of the lower leg, in 1865. At this time he used carbolic solution by application, and dressings soaked in the solution. The spray was developed later, after many different methods, including carbolic and linseed oil putty, had been tried in order to reduce the harmful side-effects of undiluted carbolic acid. The steam spray was developed in 1869, and announced to the medical world in 1871. Lister’s purpose in adopting the spray was to kill airborne bacteria in the vicinity of the operation before they could reach the patient. It came to be used all over the world for many years. However, it had serious disadvantages, which even Lister acknowledged. The principal problem was the inhalation of carbolic vapour by everyone in the vicinity, including the patient and the operator. In addition, if the patient had been anæsthetized using chloroform, the gas lights decomposed the vapour into chlorine gas, making any procedure an ordeal of endurance.The spray consists of a steam boiler heated by a wick, a nozzle for the steam to escape, and a glass jar for the carbolic solution. Fuel for the wick is carried in a tank at the base. Valves regulate the pressure of the steam, and the nozzle is adjustable. The boiler is made of cast iron, the fittings are brass, and the handles are of wood. Empty, the apparatus weighs 8 lbs (3.2 kg). lister, carbolic spray, antiseptic

It was used as a bedroom lamp by Valmae (Colling) Gaudion in various railway houses lived in around Victoria in the days before electricity.A bedroom oil lamp with a light amber coloured glass bowl with a ring holder and blue oil inside. It has a green glass handle, a metal burner, cotton wick and a knob to adjust the flame. The chimney is clear glass with a decorated edge on the top.lamps, oil lamps