Vintage Medical Vapo-Cresolene Lamp Part of American Chamber of Horrors Exhibit Date Marked 3 Aug 1939

THIS VINTAGE VAPO-CRESOLENE VAPOR LAMP IS A FASCINATING PIECE OF 19TH CENTURY MEDICAL HISTORY. DESIGNED TO VAPORIZE CRESOLENE (A DISINFECTANT DERIVED FROM COAL TAR), THIS LAMP WAS ONCE USED TO PURIFY AIR AND ALLEVIATE RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS IN HOMES AND HOSPITALS.
 
Standing approximately 15cm tall, it features a beautifully ornate brass toned cast iron stand with intricate scrollwork and a clear glass reservoir embossed with "CRESOLENE." The lamp includes its original burner and metal crucible dish on top.
 
IT WAS USED FOR "MEDICINAL" PURPOSES - MOSTLY TO "AID" BREATHING FOR THE TREATMENT OF RESPIRATORY AILMENTS SUCH AS ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS, AND COLDS. ORIGINALLY PATENTED IN 1880, IT VAPORIZED CRESOLENE, A STICKY, DARK LIQUID WITH A PUNGENT ODOR MADE FROM COAL TAR.
 
The belief was that medicine must taste or smell horrible to be good for you, (people over the age of 60 will remenber this) perfectly fits how this was used. The Creslolene was placed in a dish sitting on the top of vaporizer. The kerosene lamp was lit and the resultant heated pungent fumes were inhaled.
 
SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS CAPABLE OF TREATING A WIDE RANGE OF RESPIRATORY AILMENTS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS IT COULD, IF INHALED IN LARGE ENOUGH DOSES, ALSO KILL YOU! IN 1933, VAPO-CRESOLENE WAS AMONG ABOUT 100 ITEMS IN A TRAVELING EXHIBIT SO SHOCKING THAT IT WAS DUBBED THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF HORRORS.
 
It continued to be sold until the 1950squite a run for a product proven to be both worthless and potentially dangerous.
 
MARKINGS:
CRESELONE KEROSENE EMBOSSED ON SIDE OF BURNER
MADE IN USA EMBOSSED ON ITS BASE
PATENTED 6185 AUG 3, 39
 
DIMENSIONS:
STAND 15.5CM HIGH 8CM DIAMETER BASE
BURNER: 6.5CMHIGH 5.5CM DIAMETER
 
CONDITION: GLASS SHADE MIISSING. IN GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION.
 
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE SOME INTERESTING VINTAGE AND ANTIQUE ITEMS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. COPY THE URL UNDERNEATH AND PASTE INTO GOOGLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO ALL MY LISTINGS THIS WEEK. NOTE ALL MY AUCTIONS END AT 22H30 SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO PUT IN AN AUTOMATIC BID (HIGHEST PRICE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY) EARLY.
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