Tyler Brooks
The 19th century saw several major developments in candlemaking, which had been an established practice since ancient times. In the 19th century, candles were still a necessity for lighting, but the production process was transformed by new technologies and materials. This period saw the introduction of industrialised mass production, new types of wicks, and the use of different waxes, which revolutionised the industry and made candles more affordable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Candle-making techniques | Dipping wick in molten wax or tallow, shaping by hand, pouring wax or tallow over the wick, using moulds |
| Materials used | Tallow, beeswax, spermaceti wax, purified animal fats (stearin), paraffin wax |
| Developments in the 19th century | Industrial manufacturing techniques, continuous production of moulded candles, improvements in wicks (no need for trimming), increased use of oil lamps |
| Social impact | Affordable to lower classes, necessity for daily life, used for dining, card-playing, cooking |
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What You'll Learn
Industrial manufacturing
The manufacture of candles became an industrialised mass market in the mid-19th century. Before the 19th century, candle-making techniques included dipping or drawing a wick in molten wax or tallow, shaping it by hand by rolling soft wax around a wick, or pouring wax or tallow over the wick. Moulds were introduced in the 15th century, but candles tended to stick to the mould and break upon removal. In 1834, Joseph Morgan, a pewterer from Manchester, England, patented a machine that revolutionised candle-making. This machine allowed for the continuous production of moulded candles using a cylinder with a moveable piston to eject candles as they solidified. With this new technology, candles could be mass-produced and became more affordable.
In the 19th century, several developments impacted the candle-making industry. Firstly, the standard use of moulds for efficient production was achieved. Secondly, the standardisation of candle composition occurred with the use of spermaceti wax, a substance derived from sperm whales that burned longer, brighter, and without an offensive odour. Spermaceti was abundantly available due to the growth in whaling during the 18th century.
Another significant improvement in the 19th century was the introduction of stearin by Michel Eugène Chevreul, which solved the issue of early coal- and petroleum-derived paraffin waxes having very low melting points. By the end of the century, most candles being manufactured consisted of paraffin and stearic acid. Chemists in the 1850s were able to separate paraffin from petroleum and refine it into paraffin wax, which burned cleanly, left no unpleasant odour, and was economical.
Improvements were also made to candle wicks during this time. Older candles had a design flaw where the wick was not in direct contact with the air, causing it to char instead of burning properly. This issue was addressed with the introduction of plaited wicks, which curled out the flame as it burned and eliminated the need for constant trimming.
The industrial manufacturing techniques and advancements in candle-making during the 19th century contributed to the widespread use of candles in the Victorian era. With limited electric lighting, candlelight was necessary for daily activities such as dining, playing cards, and cooking. The popularity of candles during this period is evident from the antique candle accessories still found today. However, by the end of the Victorian era, gas lighting and electricity were slowly being introduced, signalling a transition away from candles as the primary source of artificial lighting.
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Improved wicks
The 19th century saw several improvements in candle-making, including the introduction of new materials and manufacturing techniques. One significant development was the improvement of candle wicks, which played a crucial role in enhancing the performance of candles.
Prior to the 19th century, candle wicks were typically made from twisted strands of cotton. These wicks burned poorly and required constant maintenance as they needed to be trimmed regularly with scissors or "snuffers" to prevent smoking and promote steady burning. The inefficiency of these wicks limited the overall effectiveness of candles as a source of light.
In the 19th century, a new type of wick was introduced—the braided or plaited wick. This innovation is attributed to multiple people, including a French man named M. Cambacérès, and Joseph Morgan, a pewterer from Manchester, England. The braided wick was made of tightly plaited or braided strands of cotton, which resulted in a significant improvement in wick performance. Due to the way the wick was constructed, a portion of it would curl over and enable it to be completely consumed by the flame, trimming itself through incineration. This self-trimming or self-consuming mechanism eliminated the need for constant manual trimming, making candles more convenient and efficient.
The introduction of braided wicks revolutionized candle-making and contributed to the industrialization of the craft. With this innovation, candles became accessible to a wider range of people, as they could now be produced at a lower cost and in larger quantities. The self-trimming wick, combined with the development of new waxes and manufacturing techniques, played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of candles during the 19th century.
By the end of the 19th century, candles were primarily made from paraffin wax and stearic acid, with companies like Price's Candles in London becoming the largest candle manufacturer in the world. The improvements in wick technology, along with advancements in candle composition and manufacturing processes, transformed the candle-making industry and solidified the candle's place as a primary source of artificial light until the early 1900s.
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New materials
The 19th century saw the introduction of new materials used in candlemaking, largely due to the growth of the whaling industry in the preceding century. This made available large quantities of spermaceti, a wax derived from crystallised sperm whale oil. Spermaceti burned cleanly and produced a superior light to tallow or beeswax candles, without the repugnant odour.
Another important development in the 19th century was the discovery of stearic acid by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul. This was extracted from animal fatty acids and led to the development of stearin wax, which was hard, durable, and burned cleanly. This discovery also solved the problem of early coal- and petroleum-derived paraffin waxes, which had a very low melting point. By the end of the 19th century, most candles were manufactured from paraffin and stearic acid.
The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries brought about large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques, with the invention of steam-powered machinery and mass production. In 1834, Joseph Morgan, a pewterer from Manchester, England, patented a machine that revolutionised candle-making. This allowed for the continuous production of moulded candles, using a cylinder with a moveable piston to eject the candles as they solidified.
The 19th century also saw the implementation of steam distillation by Price's Candles, a London-based company that became the largest candle manufacturer in the world. This technique allowed for the use of a wide range of raw materials, including skin fat, bone fat, fish oil, and industrial greases.
While the 19th century brought about significant advancements in candlemaking, the invention of the lightbulb during this period led to a severe decline in the industry for over a hundred years. However, the availability of paraffin and stearic acid as by-products of the oil and meatpacking industries in the 20th century saw a resurgence in candle-making and an increase in their popularity.
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Mass production
In the 19th century, candles were a necessity for daily life, as they were the primary source of artificial light. However, candle-making underwent a significant transformation during this period with the introduction of mass production.
The manufacture of candles became an industrialised mass market in the mid-19th century. This revolution was driven by several key innovations. Firstly, the introduction of moulds allowed for more efficient production, addressing the issues of candles sticking and breaking during the removal process. Secondly, in 1834, Joseph Morgan, a pewterer from Manchester, England, patented a machine that revolutionised candle-making. This machine utilised a cylinder with a moveable piston to continuously produce moulded candles, which were ejected as they solidified. As a result, candles could be mass-produced at a lower cost, making them more accessible to the lower echelons of English society.
The 19th century also saw improvements in the quality of candles. The use of whaling provided an abundance of spermaceti, a waxy substance derived from sperm whales. Spermaceti candles burned longer, brighter, and did not produce an unpleasant odour, making them superior to tallow candles. Additionally, chemists in the 1850s separated paraffin from petroleum and refined it into paraffin wax, which burned cleanly and was odourless, economical, and harder than tallow or beeswax. By the end of the century, most candles consisted of paraffin and stearic acid, with improvements in wicks, such as plaited wicks, eliminating the need for constant trimming.
However, the dominance of candles as the primary source of light began to wane towards the end of the 19th century with the introduction of gas lighting and the gradual spread of electricity. Oil lamps, which had been around for centuries, also grew in popularity during this period, providing brighter illumination than candles. Despite these advancements, candles remained in widespread use well into the 20th century, particularly in rural areas, and continue to be valued for their decorative and atmospheric qualities today.
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Competition from oil lamps
The 19th century saw the emergence of various lighting sources that competed with candles. Oil lamps, for instance, had been in use for centuries, but the 19th century witnessed the development of new fuels and technologies that enhanced their performance and popularity.
One notable competitor to candles was whale oil, which was widely used in oil lamps during the early 19th century. Whale oil was a popular lamp fuel, with sources claiming it to be the most popular lamp fuel until 1840. However, it faced competition from other fuels such as lard oil, turpentine mixtures, and camphene, a volatile but inexpensive alternative. Despite the popularity of whale oil, most Americans could only afford tallow candles for lighting their homes.
The mid-19th century also saw the rise of kerosene lamps, which became a worldwide standard with the development of the "Dietz burner" by Michael Dietz in 1868. Kerosene, also known as rock oil, coal oil, or carbon oil, was derived from crude oil and offered a brighter and less volatile lamp fuel option. The discovery and refinement of petroleum, or rock oil, further contributed to the competition by providing an alternative illuminating oil source.
Additionally, gas lamps began to replace oil street lamps in the United States during the first quarter of the 19th century. The world's first gas streetlight illuminated Pall Mall in London in 1807, and Baltimore became the first US city to adopt gas streetlights in 1817. Gas lighting offered significantly brighter illumination compared to oil lamps, with gas light being up to ten times brighter.
The late 19th century and early 20th century witnessed a period of intense competition among various lighting technologies. This included carbon arc lamps, incandescent lamps, traditional coal gas lamps, and gasoline and naphtha street lamps. The development of tungsten filaments for incandescent lamps in 1907 and 1911 further enhanced their popularity, particularly for indoor lighting.
While candles continued to be used, the emergence of these alternative lighting sources, driven by advancements in technology and fuel sources, presented significant competition and shaped the lighting landscape of the 19th century and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
Before the advent of electricity, candles were the primary source of artificial light. They were used for most ordinary activities, including dining, playing cards, and cooking.
In the 19th century, candles were made from a variety of materials, including tallow, beeswax, spermaceti (from sperm whales), purified animal fats (stearin), and paraffin wax.
Candles were made using a variety of techniques, including dipping wicks in molten wax or tallow, shaping them by hand by rolling soft wax around a wick, or pouring wax or tallow over the wick. In the 19th century, large-scale industrial manufacturing techniques were introduced, allowing for the mass production of candles.
Several improvements were made to candles in the 19th century. The introduction of stearin by Michel Eugène Chevreul solved the problem of low melting points in early paraffin waxes. Improvements in wicks, such as plaited wicks, curled out the flame as it burned, eliminating the need for constant trimming. The invention of a molded candle-production machine by Joseph Morgan in 1834 revolutionized candle-making, allowing for continuous production and making candles more affordable.
