Historical information

This slush lamp was used in the Newmerella Bakehouse ( Sederlan's Bakery) before electricity was connected.
In the days before battery powered torches many used a slush lamp to provide the light they needed to carry out their duties. It held a flammable liquid like paraffin. When the wick was lit the slush lamp provided sufficient light

Significance

Slush lamps were designed to be carried around but they could be dangerous because they have flame as a source of light. This is an example of a portable lighting device in common usage before the use of batteries.

Physical description

A cast iron slush lamp. It is a a crude lamp or burning slush, tallow, or grease.It is a jug shaped container on a shallow dish that holds the fuel and a wick that draws the fuel by capillary action. There is some burnt hessian impregnated with fat.