How to Collect Antique Oil Lamps
Antique oil lamps can offer an inexpensive way to start an antique collection. Oil lamps are readily found at swap meets, online auctions and antiques stores. With some knowledge and tools, your oil lamp collection will be off to a roaring start.
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Things You'll Need
- Portable black light
- Lighted magnifying glass
- White paper or cloth
- Small tape measure
- Small flashlight attached to flexible cable.
- CLR
- Oven cleaner
- Mild soap
- Soft cloths
- Shoe shine brush
- Fanny pack or small back pack
Instructions
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Gather a portable black light, piece of white paper or cloth, magnifying glass with a light, tape measure, small flash light attached to a flexible cable and a small measuring tape. Put all of the supplies in a fanny pack or a small backpack. Take the kit whenever you go antique shopping.
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Check for Amberina authenticity before buying Amberina lamps. Put Amberina lamps on a piece of white paper or material. Look for a darker red color with less amber.
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Use a black light to check for cracks and repairs. Look for alacite that glows under the black light. New alacite does not glow while older alacite does.
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Use a flash light on the end of flexible tubing to check the inside of the oil reserve for cracks and glue. Use light pressure when checking with your finger for cracks and repairs.
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Cleanse the lamp in warm water with mild soap after you get it home. Dry the lamp with a soft cloth and then buff it with a shoe shine brush.
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Clean nickel burners with oven cleaner. Spray the burners and let them sit for 5 minutes. Wipe them clean. Repeat until they are clean.
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Use CLR to clean brass burners. Follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning.
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Tips & Warnings
Use musical instrument brushes to clean antique oil lamps.
Find small, portable black lights at antique malls.
