There's an article in 'The Spectator Australia', by Christopher Howse, 26 Nov. 2022, about gaslights. How Westminster Council has replaced one with an LED, with 298 to go, but a rearguard action has halted its plans, (The London Gasketeers). Apparently there are 1200 surviving outside of that council's control. Berlin has 25,000. Westminster Abbey maintains its old ones, and installs new ones, since 1813. I would assume then, since mantles as we know them were not invented until much later, that they burn without a mantle. And instead of The Old Lamplighter with a flame on a long pole, there's perhaps a piezo button within easy reach to start them up ? Or start-up is controlled automatically ? We probably had gaslights here in Melbourne way back, on 'town gas'. I believe one large firm, McEwan's, had a foundry in South Melbourne. Just curious. Thanks.
@Paul Aslanides A while ago I posted a website link HERE in the CPL Library on the history of a gas lighting pioneer company, William Sugg & Co. From that website is THIS summary of their work on gas lighting there’s this extract. So yes, open flames before mantles, some very bright indeed, but mantles produced comparable light intensity but burning much less fuel to do so. John
@WimVe That's a pity. Unreliable gas supply from the East wouldn't help, and winter has arrived. No lobby group - 'The Berlin Gasketeers' ?
Found this dated 2017 but answers the lighting up question in London.. Hidden in Plain Sight: London's Gas Lighting · Look Up London Tours
Paul, they exist and are called "Progaslicht". They also have a very nice bulletin "Zündfunke" in German.
