Here is a photo of the lamp. I doubt many people have seen or know about these little lamps that were considered medicinal magic in their day.
If you have ever used one of these, I'd be interested in hearing about it.
Friday, September 4, 2009
The Vapo-Cresolene Lamp
To read my article about the Vapo-Cresolene lamp, visit Two-Lane Livin's online magazine.
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Hey Granny Sue!
ReplyDeleteI've not ever seen anything like your lamp. I'll have to go see what and how it was used!
I posted my recipe for the Honey Oat Cookies on my blog for you so you can make some with your yummy honey! lol
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ReplyDeleteSome people at work were discussing ear candling...ever hear of that?
ReplyDeleteI had to come back to let you know I read your story. Then I noticed that my first comment was on here two times! lol So I deleted one.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet story about the little lamp. It was indeed a priceless lamp!
Angela, I'll be right over to get your recipe. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty little lamp, and if it hadn't had the boxes with it, I would never have known what it was. I probably would have thought it was some odd kerosene lamp. I'll tell you what, I imagine the smell cresolene heated by the lamp would drive out any bug in the house--it's really strong, even in the box with the bottle capped tightly.
Hey WV neighbor,
ReplyDeleteI have one of these! It was my Grandma's. When my daughter was little, she came down with a cold. My Grandma told me to take the little Cresolene lamp and use it. We have always put Vicks Vapor Rub in the little dish. Works like a charm. We've had it for about 30 years now.
Vick's Vapo-rub! What a great idea. I'd be hesitant to use the cresolene because it smells so...toxic? It's probably not poisonous, but smelss that way. Vicks is a great idea. Thanks for telling me.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I have heard of ear candling, but can't recall how it worked. Now I've got to go look it up :-)
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen this one before, interesting. Sorta the original vaporizer.
ReplyDeleteMy DIL put me on to ear candling, and it works. Of course the rest of the family think I'm a bit off when I try to explain it.
That's the cutest thing, and I loved the article about your Dad and his memories of the lamp. It's like a beautiful antique version of those dreadful plastic nebulizers we have today.
ReplyDeleteLoved the article. Odd that a lady around here was talking about ear candling the other day, too. I'm curious now--off to see what I can find.
ReplyDeleteI have one of these lamps however, the chimney is different. It is one of the clear, upright form chimneys. It is in its original box. I also have two of the bottles which held the Vapo-Cresolene, one with paper label intact. As I child I remember the lamp sitting on a table beside my bed when I was sick, and the smell of the cresolene as it filled the room. The light of the flame was very comforting to a small child who was having trouble breathing and knew the cresolene would help. It burned through the night so whenever I woke up I would see the little flame. It worked well and I could breath much easier. This was almost 70 years ago, and the sight of the lamp still brings back warm memories.
ReplyDeleteOver 40 years ago during McDonnell Douglas's long strike in So. Ca., my husband worked by selling at the Rose Bowl Flea Market with bikes he would put together from parts or items he was given just to make ends meet.
ReplyDeleteNew house- new baby very little money..not knowing what the future held for our little family.
One day a lady gave him a huge box of misc. items, I spent the afternoon with my new baby sitting out on our back porch while I went through it and put pieces together if needed.
I came across these parts and put this little thing together, I loved it so much it was so cute. I had no idea what it was but it has been in my china hutch all these years to remind me of the hard times we went through then rebounded and how lucky we are.
I am so glad I happened to find this site by accident, thank you for the special memories. Cee