It is interesting that Anna Gowan did not have an oil lamp by the mid 1850s. Lamps were available in Ontario as early as 1825. In that year Nelson Walker of Toronto listed himself as an importer of “tea urns, lamps, lustres, etc.” Sir John Beverley Robinson, future Chief Justice of Upper Canada, purchased four lamp chimneys from him in August 1825. It is possible that his lamp was brought back from England as the Robinsons spent eighteen months there returning in August 1824. Indeed, part of the reason for their trip may have been to furnish their large new house.
By the time Anna Gowan immigrated to Ontario, newspapers and mercantile directories often carry ads for lamps. Hardware dealer Charles Jenkins of Kingston offered “table lamps, hanging and other lamps” for sale in 1845. In 1851, James Briggs, jr. was operating what he called a “lamp store” at the corner of Yonge and King streets in Toronto. The same year George Savage, also of Toronto, advertised “the largest stock of solar lamps in the province, with an assortment of shades, chimneys and wicks.” Savage & Company's parent store was in Montreal and became Birks Jewellers.
Lamp oil also appears in mid-nineteenth century ads. In 1845, W. J. Martin offered “sperm, olive and lard oils” for sale. He also advertised “sperm, lard and tallow candles”. It was quite common for the same merchant to deal in both lamp oil and candles. Sperm oil was the more expensive than lard oil. In 1864 winter pressed sperm oil was listed at $1.70 a gallon compared to 80¢ a gallon for No. 1 lard oil.
Olive oil appears in several ads I have seen but it is hard to say whether it was commonly used. Russell suggests that it was not (Russell 1968: 66). Nonetheless, in 1845 J. W. Brent, chemist and druggist offered for sale “1000 gallons of fine olive lamp oil”. Olive oil must have continued in use as “olive oil for lamps and machinery” was still being offered for sale in Toronto in 1857. This last reference may suggest that olive oil was used for industrial lighting purposes such as railway and ship lamps.
Fluid burning lamps also turn up in newspaper ads. In 1856 James Barker of Markham advertised “burning fluid” at five shillings a gallon (five shillings = $1.00). He also advertised “five barrels of superior burning fluid and a lot of lamps to suit”. In the same year H. P. Crosby of Markham who sold “soap and candles” also advertised “Pitcher’s fluid lamps”.
Burning fluid was developed as a cheaper alternative to sperm oil. But at $1.00 a gallon it was hardly a bargain although cheaper than the $1.50 to $1.70 a gallon paid by Chief Justice Robinson for sperm oil. Burning fluid had the advantage of having a bright flame but it was explosive.
Much of our knowledge of lamp usage in Ontario prior to the availability of coal oil comes from ads like these. But ads tell us only what lamps were available to purchase. They do not indicate how widely they were used or by whom. Perhaps the fact that Anna Gowan did not use lamps is indicative of a larger trend and that lamp usage was rare in Ontario prior to coal oil even among the well-to-do.
home page two page three page four