Brooke Martin
Whale oil was used for a variety of purposes in the 1800s, including for lubrication, illumination, soap, paint, varnish, textiles, and rope. However, the use of whale products dates back to the 17th century, when whalers would extract spermaceti—a waxy substance found in the head cavities of sperm whales—for use in cosmetics, textiles, and candles. Spermaceti candles were considered the best in the world due to their bright, clear, and odourless flame. The whaling industry was at its peak from 1820 to 1850, and it supported various businesses, including candle-making.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When did they start making candles out of whale blubber? | Spermaceti, a waxy substance found in the head cavities of sperm whales, has been used to make candles since the 17th century. |
| What is spermaceti? | Spermaceti is a pearly white, waxy, translucent solid that is obtained from the head of the sperm whale. |
| How is spermaceti obtained? | Once the whale carcass is stripped of blubber, the head is separated from the body and the spermaceti is bailed out. |
| Why is spermaceti valuable? | Spermaceti has a high melting point and burns cleanly, brightly, and without odor, making it ideal for candles and lamps. It was also used in cosmetics, textiles, and leatherworking. |
| When did the use of whale blubber for candles decline? | After the 19th century, the development of kerosene and social pressure to end predatory hunting led to a decline in the use of whale blubber for candles. |
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What You'll Learn
- Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of sperm whales
- Sperm whales were prized for their blubber and baleen
- Whale oil was used for lubrication, illumination, and manufacturing
- Whalers risked their lives hunting whales in the open sea
- Spermaceti was used to create the scientific unit candlepower
Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of sperm whales
Spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head. This organ may contain as much as 1,900 litres (500 US gallons) of spermaceti. The level of wax esters in the spermaceti organ increases with the age of the whale: 38–51% in calves, 58–87% in adult females, and 71–94% in adult males.
Spermaceti has been extracted by whalers since the 17th century for various human uses. It was used in cosmetics, textiles, and most notably, candles. Spermaceti candles were considered the best in the world, producing a bright, clear flame without excess smoke. They were so good that they became the standard for photometric measurements.
There are several theories regarding the biological function of the spermaceti organ. One theory suggests that it controls buoyancy by heating and cooling the spermaceti, thereby changing its density and allowing the whale to float or sink. Another theory posits that it assists the whale with echolocation, as the wax-like material is an excellent sound conductor. A third hypothesis suggests that it may serve as a cushion to protect the whale's delicate snout while diving.
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Sperm whales were prized for their blubber and baleen
Sperm whales were highly prized by whalers for their blubber and baleen. The blubber of the sperm whale, also known as body oil, is of a light straw colour. It has unique qualities that separate it from almost any other type of oil. It retains its lubricating qualities in extreme temperatures, making it ideal for light, rapid machinery. It also has superb illuminating qualities, burning very clearly and brightly without smoke or odour.
Spermaceti, a waxy substance found in the head cavities of the sperm whale, was also highly valued. Spermaceti was used in candle-making and for fueling lamps. Spermaceti candles were considered the best in the world, producing a bright, clear flame without excess smoke. Spermaceti was also used in liquid form, distilled as an oil to fuel lamps. Spermaceti was also used in cosmetics, leatherworking, and lubricants.
The sperm whale carries the thickest blubber of any whale, with a thickness of 20-28 inches, an adaptation to the icy Arctic waters in which the species lives. The blubber would be boiled to render and produce oil, which was then scraped off and put into barrels to be transported.
The baleen of the sperm whale was also prized. Baleen, or whalebone, is a hard material found in large plates in the mouths of some whale species. It is tough yet flexible, and was used in a number of practical applications. It was commonly used in the manufacture of corsets, as well as in toys, collar stays, buggy whips, and early typewriters. The teeth of the sperm whale were also sought after, with whalers using them to produce inked carvings known as scrimshaw.
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Whale oil was used for lubrication, illumination, and manufacturing
Whale oil has been used for lubrication, illumination, and manufacturing since the 16th century. While cheaper alternatives existed, whale oil was superior in performance and cleanliness of burn, making it a highly sought-after commodity.
Lubrication
Whale oil was widely used for lubrication in machinery and fine instruments. Its ability to provide high-pressure lubrication made it valuable in toolmaking machinery, especially in the United Kingdom. The oil was also treated with sulfur to enhance its lubricating properties.
Illumination
Whale oil was commonly used for illumination, particularly in lamps and streetlights. In the 18th century, Vauxhall Gardens was illuminated with whale oil lamps, and in the 1740s, London had five thousand street lamps burning whale oil. Whale oil burned brighter and produced less smoke compared to alternative sources of light, making it a preferred choice despite its strong odour when burnt.
Manufacturing
Whale oil played a significant role in the manufacturing of various products. It was used to make soap, paint, varnish, leather, linoleum, and textiles. The oil was also important in the production of nitroglycerin for explosives during both World Wars. In the early 20th century, whale oil was used to make margarine through the process of hydrogenation. However, due to its foul smell and tendency to discolour, it was eventually replaced by vegetable oil in margarine production.
The use of whale oil in lubrication, illumination, and manufacturing had a significant impact on the whaling industry. As demand increased, especially during the Industrial Revolution, the whaling industry expanded. However, with the discovery of alternative lighting fuels and lubricants in the 1860s, such as kerosene, the whaling industry began to decline. Today, with most countries banning whaling, the use of whale oil has largely ceased.
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Whalers risked their lives hunting whales in the open sea
Whale oil has been used for various purposes, including lubrication, illumination, soap-making, and the manufacture of paint, varnish, textiles, and rope. Spermaceti, a waxy substance derived from the head cavities of sperm whales, was particularly valued for candle-making. The commercial use of whale products, including the hunting of whales for their blubber, dates back to the 17th century.
Whaling has been a dangerous occupation, with whalers risking their lives to hunt whales in the open sea. Whalers would set out in small boats, facing the immense power and size of the whales. The process of hunting involved harpooning the whale to secure it to the boat before killing it. The harpoon, or "whale iron," was designed to penetrate the blubber and hold securely. Each ship typically carried 150-200 harpoons for a four-year voyage in the mid-nineteenth century.
The development of powered whaling ships and harpoon guns in the early 20th century revolutionized the industry. These advancements led to the emergence of a worldwide commercial whaling industry, with ships fast enough to catch even the quickest whales. The Blue Whale, for example, was targeted for its large body, resulting in its endangered status today.
Whalers often pursued specific whale species, such as the Yankee whalers' hunting of the Humpback whale. The Humpback was considered the least desirable among the five species they typically hunted due to its tendency to sink upon death. Whalers also sought whales with valuable baleen, or "whalebone," which was used in various products like corsets, toys, and typewriters.
The dangers faced by whalers were not limited to the whales themselves but also extended to the harsh conditions at sea and the presence of scavengers. Deep-sea whaling, in particular, posed significant challenges, requiring whalers to tow the whale back to the ship and secure it to prevent drifting. The lucrative nature of the whaling industry, with profits reaching tens of thousands of dollars per voyage, underscored the risks undertaken by those who participated in this line of work.
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Spermaceti was used to create the scientific unit candlepower
The use of whale blubber for lighting and lubrication dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when whaling industries were developed to harvest and refine the contents of the sperm whale's head. Whale oil, also known as train oil, was used for illumination, lubrication, and the production of soaps, paint, and varnish.
Spermaceti, a waxy substance derived from the head cavities of sperm whales, played a significant role in the creation of the scientific unit "candlepower." Spermaceti was highly valued for candle-making due to its bright, clear flame and lack of excess smoke. It was also used as a lamp oil, distilled in liquid form.
The term "candlepower" was defined in the United Kingdom's Metropolitan Gas Act of 1860 as the light produced by a pure spermaceti candle weighing 1/6 pound (76 grams) and burning at a rate of 120 grains per hour (7.8 grams per hour). This unit of measurement for luminous intensity was based on the exceptional qualities of light emitted by spermaceti candles. The French standard of light at the time was based on the illumination from a Carcel burner, which used pure colza oil.
The international unit "candela" replaced candlepower in 1948, but the term "candlepower" is still used in certain contexts, such as in the California Vehicle Code for headlamp requirements. Additionally, it is sometimes used colloquially to describe the luminous intensity of high-powered flashlights and spotlights.
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Frequently asked questions
People have been making candles from whale blubber since the 17th century.
Whale oil was highly sought after for its lubricating qualities in extreme temperatures and its bright, clear flame without smoke or odor.
After the whale's carcass was stripped of blubber, the head was removed and its valuable head matter,
