For many hundreds of years the kerosene lantern was the only form of safe night-time light, prior to invention of electric lights. Some people also know the kerosene lamps as paraffin lamps but are the same thing, both making use of the combustible hydrogen as a fuel source.

Evidence for the use of kerosene lanterns has been found as far back as the ninth and tenth centuries in the Middle East, it was though the Victorian era that saw more widespread usage.

There are two main sorts of kerosene lanterns in existence, the wick lantern and the pressure lantern. The wick lantern is the more widespread, although the pressure kerosene lantern is the more efficient.

The pressure kerosene lantern works by heating the kerosene until it becomes a vapour. This heating occurs through the use of methylated spirit, but once the kerosene is vaporised then it will burn much brighter and more efficiently.

The wick kerosene lantern though is much simpler and works in a similar way to a normal candle, with a wick absorbing kerosene so that the lantern burns. The wick itself doesn't burn and once all of the kerosene within an internal pool has been used then the light will go out. The light produced is far brighter than a normal candle, although it is faster burning. There are other hydrocarbons that combust but kerosene was for a long time the safest and slowest burning of all available hydrocarbons; safe and slow being good for obvious reasons.

As with any hydrocarbons though the use of a kerosene lantern does require some care, as when burnt kerosene will give off carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The latter being a cause of death if a kerosene lantern is used for long enough in an unventilated space.

Today kerosene lanterns are still sold, although in much smaller numbers. In the Untied States Coleman Kerosene lanterns are big sellers, whilst in the UK Tiley lamps or similar sell well. There are though still some groups, including the Amish, who make use of the kerosene lamp rather than electricity because of their beliefs. In general though the kerosene lantern is not used in homes very much, and are rather used outdoors as people take kerosene lamps camping. Many people also have them set aside in case of power cuts, the kerosene lantern being a substitute for the electricity that virtually replaced it.

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