Before the advent of ceiling lights and their fixtures, humans had to light their way in the dark using candles, oil lamps and other sorts of fire based tools. The oil lamp involved a complicated kind of technology and was probably devised when a cave dweller saw lightning burst into flame after striking some surface crude oil. There are really as many suggestions as to the founders of the oil lamp as there are still users of the oil lamp. An oil lamp is set on a table, usually the kitchen table and candelabras were used in formal dining rooms. An oil lamp was a fixture in the bedroom. A black table lamp was usually the color to go for these bedrooms.
The superiority of lamps set on table over candelabras was in their safety feature, and they usually outlasted a candle. Whereas a candle was set into a holder and lit and the melting wax was permitted to drizzle down its sides, the oil lamp had a bottom base to hold oil. The top of the oil lamp came in a variety of shapes and held the wick. The wick was controlled by a knob that adjusted its height out side of the oil lamp. The wick went from the oil to the outside of the lamp and was lit, giving light to the darkness and the sweet smell of gently burning oil.
Humans went from the oil table lamp to the electric table lamp after Benjamin Franklin decided to fly a kite that held a key. He was not trying to electrocute himself, but he did know that iron struck by electricity stayed hot and glowed which made room for today’s modern table lamps.
After many mechanically oriented humans worked on the problem of transferring electricity by wire to homes, the ceiling light became a marvelous extent ion of a humans daytime to nighttime activities. The need for the oil table lamp was replaced by electric table lamps of an extravagant nature. Crystals framing the light bulb in artistic designs were a must have for homes that sported the living room with its ornate crystal table lamp. The table lamp for living rooms spawned an industry of huge proportions as no well- defined home would be complete without at least three table lamps in the living room which were not always made of crystal. It was not uncommon to spot a ceramic table lamp or a glass table lamp in these rooms as well. Living rooms always had couches and recliners and overly stuffed side chairs. And, they always had finely worked end tables and joining tables and center tables to hold foods that might be served to guests in living rooms. When electricity became as easy to use as flipping a switch, the table lamp became a must for side tables and centerpieces for main tables.
The table lamp replaced the bedroom oil lamp for reading privately without disturbing your sleeping mate. The ceiling light would keep all users of the bedroom awake, but the end table lamp would cast just enough light for the human who wanted to stay up late and read to his heart’s content.
The table lamp has basic requirements. It needs a container to hold the light bulb to the lamp and to keep the electric cord in place when inserted into an electric socket. The devise is usually a frame made of metal and screwed into other metal rods. These metal rods are usually covered with flame retardant materials called lamp shades. The base can be made of any material and is usually a work of art. The electricity is activated from the electric socket to the light bulb by turning a knob that connects what are called live wires actually copper looking wires to the live wire that is connected to the electric socket. The wires activate the light bulb and the table lamp becomes one of humankind’s most civilizing tool.
Today’s table lamps come in all different designs and sizes, a ceramic table lamp, glass table lamp and Tiffany table lamp among the most popular these days.
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Any suggestion on which table lamp I should get for a living room? There are so many to chose from that I cannot come up with a decision.Who is the best table lamp manufacturer?