Lamp - lamp (English spelling) lamp

As it is commonly called, the oil lamp is a type of Western lamp and a lighting device for oil. It is similar to a lantern in that it uses oil as a light source and ignites by utilizing capillary action, but it has a unique feature that it is attached to a metal or glass container, a cotton wick is inserted into it and immersed in oil, and the wick is raised by turning the screw to ignite it, after which the wick is lowered and the flame is surrounded by a glass fireplace. People who first encountered lamps were undoubtedly confused by the strong smell and soot-filled lighting device depending on how it was operated, but as a result of gradual improvements, it established its position as a lighting device that replaced Japanese lamps such as rapeseed oil lanterns and candlesticks. It goes without saying that it was counted as one of the conveniences that symbolized the enlightenment movement, since it was possible to enjoy a brightness that had never been experienced before by simply supplying air to increase the degree of combustion of the oil in the wick. It is said that it was first introduced to Japan in 1859 (Ansei 6) when Suzuki Tetsuzo of Nagaoka, Echigo (Niigata Prefecture), purchased it from the Dutch merchant Snell in Yokohama.

In Echigo and Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture), where people used locally produced oil as fuel and lighting materials, lamps were imported from Europe and America in succession at the end of the Edo period, and they quickly spread, mainly in urban areas near open ports. As early as 1872 (Meiji 5), domestic lamps were made and sold by Osaka merchants. They gained a foothold while competing with gas lamps, which appeared at the time, and reached their heyday in the latter half of the Meiji period. Throughout that period, lamps spread throughout the country, but later, the number of people using electric lamps, which are very easy to operate and much brighter, increased, and their status as lighting equipment declined after the mid-Taisho period. In recent years, they have only survived in places where people live without the benefit of electric lamps.

Lamps used in the past were of various shapes and sizes, and were designed to suit different situations in daily life. For example, there were hanging lamps with a mountain-shaped shade that was hung from above with a string to light up the entire room, and pedestal lamps similar to candlesticks that were placed not only for lighting but also to create a room's atmosphere. Inverted lamps (downward-facing lamps) with a flame facing downwards were unique in shape. Tabletop miniature lamps and medium-sized lamps over 40 centimeters in height were named mainly based on their size. In addition, tote carriage lamps were used as headlights for stagecoaches in the early Taisho period, and railway lamps were used as railway maintenance or signal lights in the late Meiji period. Lamps known as eaves lights were hung in storefronts to serve as advertising lights, and were used for store lighting in the late Meiji period. There were many examples of names given to these lamps that were named after their purpose or scene of use. Many people who were amazed by the brightness of the lamps preferred flat-wick lamps, which could be lit by simply moving the cotton wick up and down by operating a gear. This refers to lamps with a flat wick, and is distinguished from rolled-wick lamps (round-wick lamps). Flat-wick lamps consume less oil and are economical, but they have a drawback in terms of light output, which is the life of the lamp. To compensate for this, lamps with a wick of a different width were selected to suit the location of use. These lamps are called two-minute wick lamps, three-minute wick lamps, five-minute wick lamps, and eight-minute wick lamps, and of course they are all different only in terms of wick width, with no difference in the mechanism itself. There are also other examples of distinctive lamps, such as double-wick lamps, which have a flat wick and a rolled wick, and air lamps, which are designed to improve air supply to make them easier to burn.

[Takeshi Amano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

石油ランプと通称されるように、洋灯の一種で石油用の灯火具。石油を灯火の材料とすることや毛細管現象を利用して点火することでは、カンテラと類似するが、金属製またはガラス製の容器に口金を取り付け、それに綿糸製の芯(しん)を差し入れて石油に浸し、ねじの操作によって芯を上げて点火し、その後は芯先を下げ、炎の周りをガラス製の火屋(ほや)で囲うなどの特色がある。ランプに初めて接した人々は、操作いかんによって強いにおいを発し、かつ煤(すす)の立ちこめる灯火具にとまどいを感じたことは確かであったが、漸次改良が重ねられた結果、菜種油用の行灯(あんどん)、ろうそく用の燭台(しょくだい)などの和灯にとってかわる灯火具の地位を確立した。空気を供給して芯に含まれた石油の燃焼度を高めさえすれば、従来体験できなかった明るさに浴することができたので、文明開化を象徴する利器の一つに数えられたのはいうまでもない。日本に伝えられたのは、1859年（安政6）越後(えちご)（新潟県）長岡の鈴木鉄蔵が横浜でオランダ商人スネルから買ったのが最初という。

　越後、信州（長野県）など、身近で産出する臭生水(くそうず)（石油）を燃料または灯火の材料として用いてきた生活の背景と相まって、江戸時代末期に欧米から前後して輸入されたランプは、主として開港地に近い都市部を中心に急速な普及をみるに至り、早くも1872年（明治5）には大阪商人たちにより国産のものがつくられ、市販された。おりから登場してきたガス灯と競合しながらも地歩を固め、明治期後半になると石油ランプの全盛期を迎えた。その時代を経て、ランプは全国の津々浦々に浸透したが、その後、操作がいたって簡単で明るさの点で一段と勝る電灯（電気灯）の利用者が増加し、大正中期以降、灯火具としての地位は低下した。近年は、電灯の恩恵に浴さない生活環境の場で命脈を保っているにすぎない。

　従来使用してきたランプには、種々の形とさまざまな大きさのものがあり、生活の場面に応じてくふうが凝らされていた。たとえば、部屋全体の照明用に山形の笠(かさ)をかぶせ、上から紐(ひも)で吊(つ)り下げて使った吊りランプ、照明のためばかりではなく、部屋の雰囲気を醸し出すために置かれた、燭台に似た台ランプなど、形態差による別があった。炎を下に向けた逆さランプ（下向きランプ）は特異な形をしたものである。卓上用の豆ランプ、高さ40センチメートル余の中形ランプなどは、主として大きさに着眼した呼び方である。また、トテ馬車ランプは大正初期における乗合馬車の前照灯用のものであったし、鉄道ランプは明治末期における鉄道の保線用ないし標識灯用のランプであった。世に軒灯(けんとう)と称せられたランプは店頭に吊って広告灯の役割を果たすものであり、明治末期における店舗照明用に使われたのである。その呼び方には、使用目的ないし場面を冠した例が少なくなかった。ランプの放つ明るさに驚きを感じた人々には、歯車の操作により、綿布の芯を簡単に上下させて点火できる平芯ランプを好む向きが多かった。それは、芯先が平面状であるものをさし、巻き芯ランプ（丸芯ランプ）と区別された。平芯ランプは、石油の消費量が少なく経済的である反面、ランプの生命とでもいうべき光力に難点があった。この点をいくらかでも補うべく、芯幅の広狭を選択し、使用場所いかんに対応しようとした。二分芯ランプ、三分芯ランプ、五分芯ランプおよび八分芯ランプなどとよばれるのがそれで、もちろん芯幅の違いによるだけで、仕組み自体にはなんら相違はない。そのほか、平芯と巻き芯とを装置した両芯ランプ、空気の供給をよくして燃えやすくくふうした空気ランプなど、特色あるランプの例もある。

［天野　武］

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