Aladdin Oil Lamps – Beautiful Collectibles
While when you hear the words “Aladdin oil lamps” you may instantly start thinking of a magic wish, genies that grant your wishes, and the ever popular Aladdin movie, there are real lamps out there with this name that are lovely collectibles. Not only are they beautiful collectibles, but they actually have a history that is rich and intriguing as well.
These Aladdin oil lamps were actually put out by the Western Light Company. It was Victor Samuel Johnson that actually invented these lamps in the first place. He got the idea for these lamps from a kerosene lamp burner that was German and known as the “practicus.” Johnson would quite the job he had in 1907 and became the founder of the Minneapolis Western Light Company. He then got the rights so he could sell within the United States the Practicus lamps.
Over the next years he would work with other people within his company to help to work on taking the Practicus design and modifying it into a new design for lamps. Once he came up with the design, he then named this new design the “Aladdin lamp,” which was after the magic lamp that was well known from the Aladdin story.
Once these new lamps begin to sell, both Johnson and the company that he had started were very shocked at how much profit they brought in. Because of the quality of illumination and the burning time that they provided, they quickly became a very popular option. Other types of kerosene lamps were becoming obsolete because of the popularity of these new lamps.
Aladdin Inc. would then be formed in 1919, and this company came out with a variety of different products. Instead of just offering the unique Aladdin oil lamps, they started offering vacuum bottles, lunchboxes, and a variety of other related products. This company still actually makes these lamps and they continue to be very popular yet today.
The company that makes these lamps would later be changed in name to the Mantle Lamp Company. During the Second World War, this company would become very popular. Since electronic lamps were discontinued for some time to help conserve on resources, again these lamps would be very popular. Today these older lamps from the past are collectibles that command quite a bit of money and there are a variety of different groups out there that actually collect these beautiful lamps.
Today you’ll find that Aladdin oil lamps are still popular and it is easy to see why they continue to be so popular because of the tradition and interesting history that is behind them. While they are still manufactured, it is the vintage lamps that are the rage and highly treasured. If you are able to find some of the older ones, they definitely make great additions to collections, although you can expect to pay quite a sum of money for them.