Do you know what wick trimmers are? Probably your great-grandmother had one or more pairs of them and used them daily. They are a kind of special scissors whose purpose is to trim the wicks on candles ...

Click to open image viewer. CC0 Usage Conditions ApplyClick for more information. This oil-wick lamp is a patent model constructed by John Fleming of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania that received patent ...

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in ...

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