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Oil-lamp clock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
18th Century oil-lamp clock

Oil-lamp clocks, also known as lamp clocks[1] or silent clocks are a type of clock consisting of a graduated glass reservoir to hold oil - typically whale oil,[2] which burned cleanly and evenly - supplying the fuel for a built-in lamp. As the level in the reservoir dropped, it provided a rough measure of the passage of time and the light source allowed the clock to be read at night time.[3] Oil lamps were used for time keeping as early as the 15th Century.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Origin of the Combustion Clock". The Seiko Museum. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Oil Lamp Clock 19th Century". The French Antique Store. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Oil Lamp Clock". Uhren Museum. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  4. ^ Cunynghame, Henry (September 2018). Time and Clocks. ISBN 978-3-7340-4508-0.