mantles, individually-wrapped
Date1900-1930
Inventory Number1998-1-1585
ClassificationLamp
Subject
Maker
Welsbach Company
1900 - 1941
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions13 x 33 x 19 cm (5 1/8 x 13 x 7 1/2 in.)
Material
Accessoriescardboard tubes containing individually wrapped mantles (17); box
DescriptionDepicted are seventeen cardboard tubes, most of which are covered on both ends with detachable fitted cardboard caps. Fourteen of these tubes are a single size and the rest vary. Affixed vertically around three of them are worn bands that functioned as seals. Inside the tube, packed within gauze and cotton, sits the mantle. At least one of these tubes does not contain a mantle.
The mantles themselves are made of a meshed fabric (e.g., nylon web), which after being dipped into a solution of rare earth oxides (most notably thorium nitrate) is coated with lacquer and fashioned into a dome-like shape using a wire frame.
The mantles themselves are made of a meshed fabric (e.g., nylon web), which after being dipped into a solution of rare earth oxides (most notably thorium nitrate) is coated with lacquer and fashioned into a dome-like shape using a wire frame.
Signedstamped onto each mantle, in bold cursive font with shadow: Welsbach MANTLE
also stamped onto mantles: THE GENUINE / MANTLE HAS / THE REGISTERED / TRADE MARK / INDELIBLY / STAMPED UPON IT.
Inscribedon seals: REFUSE THIS PACKAGE IF SEAL IS BROKEN
on mantles: DOUBLE WIRE CAP. / BEWARE OF COUNTERFEITS.
on one mantle: MOUNTED __ MAGNESIA RING.
FunctionThe purpose of the mantle is to increase the output of light from gas lamps. The first commercial gas mantle was patented in 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach, who named after himself both the mantle (in German: Auerlicht), and the company that sold them (the Welsbach Company).
The first mantle was made out of lanthanum oxide. Further experimentation led to the inclusion of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide. Eventually, however, Welsbach settled on a combination of thorium oxide and cerium oxide. Different models of mantles were made for different brightnesses (one pictured on the right boasts of 30 candle power), qualities of light (the stout green upright mantle, an inverted mantle, was meant to minimize shadow), and durations, as well as for different models of gas lamps.
The first mantle was made out of lanthanum oxide. Further experimentation led to the inclusion of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide. Eventually, however, Welsbach settled on a combination of thorium oxide and cerium oxide. Different models of mantles were made for different brightnesses (one pictured on the right boasts of 30 candle power), qualities of light (the stout green upright mantle, an inverted mantle, was meant to minimize shadow), and durations, as well as for different models of gas lamps.
Negretti and Zambra
Date: circa 1890
Object number: 1998-1-0830
VWR Scientific
Date: 1966-1974
Accessories: box base; box cover; glass tubes individually wrapped in paper
Object number: 1996-1-0441
John Cuthbertson
Date: 1770-1815
Accessories: brown storage box, descriptive tag, thin strip of paper in box with the inscription "lucernal microscope" in David P. Wheatland's handwriting (which refers to figs. 47-48 and 51 in this series), page from the book "Old Science and Medicine" with a photographic copy of the first print from this series, entitled "The Large Electric Machine at Haarlem."
Object number: 1998-1-1087
