Oil-lamp clock

Oil-lamp clocks, also known as lamp clocks^[1] or silent clocks are a type of clock consisting of a graduated glass reservoir to hold oil - typically whale oil,^[2] which burned cleanly and evenly - supplying the fuel for a built-in lamp. As the level in the reservoir dropped, it provided a rough measure of the passage of time and the light source allowed the clock to be read at night time.^[3] Oil lamps were used for time keeping as early as the 15th Century.^[4]

18th Century oil-lamp clock

See also

• Candle clock
• Water clock
• Hourglass