A brass lamp used to disinfect and deodorize your home. Formalin is a form of formaldehyde and was vaporized to kill a variety of bacteria in the home and workplace. The lamp sold for $1.75 and the formalin pellets were $.30 for 20 ct.
This kerosene lantern was used by Charles Ryan, Sr. while watchman at the Walnut Street Gate of the Assabet Mills. It was carried by Mr. Ryan when making his hourly rounds through the mills.
This type of torchlight would be used in the so-called torchlight parades, at election times especially. It was filled with kerosene and burned throught the wicks.
Subtitled "The Saga of the Lamplighter", this tells the story of how the streets of Maynard were lit by moonlight, oil lamps, gas and finally electricity: the benefits and a bit of what was lost...