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General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: Jimbee on 14/12/2023 17:42:33

Title: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: Jimbee on 14/12/2023 17:42:33

Just before Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb in 1879, people were still using candles. Tallow candles, usually. Though some people could afford the more expensive bee's wax ones.

Tallow candles give off very little light. Even when you use a lot of them. And they are still very expensive. Some homes could only afford one. The wicks burned low. And they had to be periodically snuffed, or have their burnt ends cut off.

How on earth did people see by them at night? Because I know places like Paris and London did have a thriving night life. Could people just see better then? Or did they need to see everything? Did people just have a harder time seeing at night?

Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: Bored chemist on 14/12/2023 18:16:36

During power cuts, I have read by candle light.
I'd wait until sunrise before I tried treading needles but a candle gives you enough light to cook (especially if you are using a fire) or dress for work or bed.
And I don't think they did a lot in the evenings. (Give or take ... large families)

Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 14/12/2023 19:50:04

A) big candles
B) lots of candles
C) oil lamps

Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: paul cotter on 14/12/2023 20:15:21

The human eye is quite capable of adjusting to low light through the iris mechanism and the rod sensors will function well under low illumination although colour discrimination suffers. Gas lights with mantles provide good lighting.

Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: alancalverd on 14/12/2023 21:38:11

Candles are fine. College dinners are always by candlelight, as are chapel services (relax! I only go for the music!) Oil lamps date back to prehistoric times and were good enough for hunters and zoologists to paint amazing pictures in caves 40,000 years ago. Those "carriage lamps" outside posh residences are modelled on actual carriage lamps with candle or oil holders, not 10W daylight LEDs.

The adapted human eye works pretty well even by starlight.

As for BC's needle threading, you  can find glass globes and metal sconces  used by embroiderers to concentrate candlelight, and if Samuel Pepys is to be believed, our forebears got up to plenty of nighttime revelry, even if they occasionally mistook the identity of their willing partner (".....left the tavern after supper and did make merry with Mrs Jones for a while. Discovered my error and returned  to the marital home where Mistress Pepys, at first disgruntled, eventually disrobed for pleasure....")

Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: Bored chemist on 14/12/2023 23:28:37

Been a while since I last saw sconces and college dinners mentioned in the same post.
I suspect that Pepys could afford more candles than many.

Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: paul cotter on 15/12/2023 09:12:51

Alan has been sneaking into church, for the "music"!!, do we believe him?

Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 15/12/2023 12:51:39

People do still use candles to see by

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Title: Re: How Did People See By Those Old Tallow Candles?
Post by: alancalverd on 15/12/2023 19:28:04

Quote from: paul cotter on 15/12/2023 09:12:51

Alan has been sneaking into church, for the "music"!!, do we believe him?

Try https://www.lucycavendishsingers.org.uk/content/live-recordings-singers  (https://www.lucycavendishsingers.org.uk/content/live-recordings-singers)to hear what goes on in the local churches when I'm not playing jazz in them!