Comments on: In the Archives: Lit by Kerosene

By: Russ Miller

Russ Miller — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:53:37 +0000

I think the artifact is a wheel from reel type push mower – with perhaps a gear cast into a drum on the back side. Seems like an awfully skinny thing to push across a lawn but there might have been a hard rubber tire cast on the rim.

By: Irene Hieber

Irene Hieber — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:47:29 +0000

I think this is an idler pulley wheel.

IJH

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:58:44 +0000

artifact hint: this is actually only part of the actual artifact. And it’s a seasonal artifact.

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:50:14 +0000

*benzene. Sorry, it was spelled “benzine” in many older pubs; I mistakenly defaulted to that spelling, there.

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:48:48 +0000

Teacher P and George H: Thank you for your kind words. Can you imagine having a glass lamp full of benzene or gasoline on your dining room table? The unscrupulousness of that person selling the benzine recipe in “distant states” gave me a chill when I read about it. And the relentlessness of the oil companies in pressing down the flash point…at any cost.

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:43:25 +0000

Jim: You are exactly right, and I apologize, I forgot to say that indeed the previous item was a stamp dispenser. Thanks for the reminder; I appreciate it. I have the dispenser on my desk right now.

By: George Hammond

George Hammond — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:53:02 +0000

Fascinating article! Thank You!

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:12:36 +0000

Key line upon which to reflect: Many unscrupulous oil refiners of that era pursued profits at the cost of lives like hers.

Scary!

Beautiful article, Laura. I can’t imagine the pain that this poor girl went through (and her family/friends suffered) just so Mr. McOil RichDude could make a few extra dollars :(

By: Jim Rees

Jim Rees — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:04:05 +0000

So was last month’s artifact a stamp dispenser?

Thanks for continuing the “things that blow up” theme. I’m going to guess the artifact is from a 19th century petroleum refinery, and was part of the ventilation system. These were introduced after “Ball Bearing 4″ suffered frequent failures, causing entire towns to be wiped off the face of the State. The destruction was so complete that today the Marathon Detroit Refinery is the only one left in Michigan.

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:41:03 +0000

Looks great at present (using Safari). Thanks Dave!