Department 56 New England Village Lamp Lighter Intro 07 Retired 20 READ HISTORY

Name: Department 56 New England Village Lamp Lighter Intro 07 Retired 20 READ HISTORY
Brand: Department 56
SKU: 267558981122
Price: 24.95 USD
Availability: InStock

USD 24.95

Condition: Used

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Description

View Department 56 New England Village Lamp Lighter Intro 07 Retired 20 READ HISTORY with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. The censuses record many of these individuals working in this field. The oldest lamplighter in the 1861 census seems to be John Bailey, an 84-year-old grandfather in Plymouth. He died at the age of 90. 1752 is the first date in which the term ‘lamplighter’ was used, but individuals were working as such earlier, even if not under this recognizable name. These were people who worked in all weathers, but given that they worked primarily over the colder months, they often had to deal with rain and snow on their travels. They worked on their own or with assistants – often young boys – travelling round with ladders, oil and snuffers to make local towns and cities light enough for residents to continue to move around safely. Back in 1806, an advertisement was placed in the London Morning Herald noting that commissioners responsible for keeping public streets and places in one Chelsea parish safe were meeting at a local coffee house at 10am the following Tuesday. They wanted to receive proposals from those who were willing to ‘put up and light’ lamps, with two burners in each lamp, in several nearby streets. The successful applicant would be appointed for a period of eight months from September 1806, charged ‘with good and proper oil and cotton; each lamp to burn clear and bright from sunsetting to sunrising; and to keep the same clear and in perfect repair, and immediately to replace all such as shall, from time to time, become broken, under certain penalties, which shall be specified in the contract’ and to light the lamps. There would be at least 250 lamps to light during the winter months. Each applicant had to come to the coffee house with their own lamp and burner, and describe their proposals for the number of ‘threads to be put in each spout’. Lamplighters could be so quick in travelling round their allotted area, or climbing their ladders, that the phrase to describe someone as being ‘like a lamplighter’ was to denote being quick. With the introduction of gas lamps, lamplighters also became known as gaslighters, and in the 1820s an elderly man wrote to his local paper, the  Liverpool Mercury , stating, ‘I am in continual apprehension of being bereft of life by the gaslighters, who run along the parapets [edges] of the streets at their utmost speed, with their ladders placed upon their shoulders.’ This writer was quite sarcastic about his local lamplighters, and his comments hinted at the attitude towards lamplighters that some people had; they were perceived as having lowly jobs and a lack of consideration towards others. This was despite them providing a valuable service to people like the Liverpool letter writer, enabling them to see on dark nights, and thus maintain their own businesses and lifestyles. The censuses record many of these individuals working in this field. Those who had a hardy constitution could combine lamp lighting duties with another day job, even into old age: the census shows several men in their 70s holding down lamp lighting jobs, or combining them with work such as gardening or shoemaking. In the days before old age pensions – with the first means-tested state pension starting in 1909 – work into later life could be essential. One of the fascinating things about searching for a particular occupation in the census – The Genealogist’s keyword search makes this very easy, for example – is to see the type of individual who worked in a job at different times, and what background they were from. The oldest lamplighter in the 1861 census seems to be John Bailey, an 84-year-old grandfather in Plymouth. He died at the age of 90. Another man who lived to a ripe old age was Foulkes Foulkes, originally from north Wales, who would live to 97. Foulkes worked as a lamplighter and street sweeper, before being admitted to a Lancashire workhouse, where he is recorded as living in 1861. Most of the items I sell are in used condition, so please do not expect them to be like new unless stated as such. Colors can be tricky to photograph due to cameras, lighting, computers, and personal interpretation.  They come to you in "as found" and "as is" conditions and are being described to the very best of my ability. Some of my vintage items may be from barns, attics, or estates that are dusty and possibly musty, may have pets, smoke, and have environmental conditions over which I have no control. Having said all that, I am happy to combine shipping where appropriate. Return Policy: If your item does not fit, I do accept returns within 30 days. Please note that the item must be returned in the exact same condition as it was received. I request that you select "Item does not fit" when returning an item that does not fit. Feedback: I aim to earn positive 5-star feedback on every transaction. If you are pleased with your purchase, please take a moment to leave positive 5-star feedback. If you have any issues with your purchase, please contact me directly using eBay's message service to resolve the issue so that I can earn your positive 5-star feedback. I can fix most issues within 24-48 hours versus 7 days when opening a case. I want you to be satisfied! Happy hunting. Slainte! Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Holiday & Seasonal › Villages & Houses. Brand: Department 56.