A Betty lamp is a simple oil lamp that was widely used for lighting in earlier times. The name likely comes from the German word "Bett" (bed), as the lamp was often used as a night light. The Betty lamp's design is derived from older Roman oil lamps and was used primarily in Europe and America in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Features of a Betty lamp :
- Material : Usually made of iron or brass.
- Fuel : Animal fat, fish oil or vegetable oils such as linseed oil.
- Design : Consists of a simple container (reservoir) with a pouring spout from which a wick protrudes.
- Smoke Production : Because it used animal fat or crude oil as fuel, the lamp often gave off soot and smoke.
How a Betty lamp works :
- The reservoir is filled with oil or grease.
- A cotton or linen wick is soaked in the oil and protrudes from the spout.
- When the wick is lit, it slowly draws in oil and burns with a small flame.
- Sometimes a second drip tray was placed beneath the lamp to catch dripping oil.
Advantages :
✔ Simple design and easy to make
✔ Can burn on different types of oil
✔ Functioned without electricity
Disadvantages :
✖ Produces smoke and soot, which could discolour walls and ceilings
✖ Not a very bright light, especially compared to later oil lamps such as the Petromax
✖ Grease and oil could leak, which made a mess
The Betty lamp was later replaced by more efficient oil lamps such as the Argand lamp and the Kerosene lamp , which smoked less and gave a brighter light.