Dietz, Robert Edwin
Published: August 31, 2006, 9:46 pm
Updated: August 31, 2006, 9:46 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Tom Lawrence
Robert Edwin Dietz (1818-1897), an American inventor who created and patented one of the first practical kerosene lamps in 1859. He appears to have done so independently of Ignacy Lukasiewicz of Poland, who also developed a kerosene lamp in 1853. Earlier, in 1845, he and his brother had introduced sperm oil lanterns. However, the introduction of the kerosene lamp accelerated the substitution of kerosene for whale oil in lighting applications in the U.S. As a fuel, whale oil had inferior properties for light production and had grown more expensive in the mid-nineteenth century due to depletion of whale stocks. The R.E. Dietz Company went on to manufacture hundreds of lantern models, and became a pioneer in the automotive electric lighting industry.
Further Reading
R. E. Dietz Co., Ltd.
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Tom Lawrence (Topic Editor) "Dietz, Robert Edwin". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 31, 2006; Last revised Date August 31, 2006; Retrieved June 18, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Dietz,_Robert_Edwin>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
Robert Edwin Dietz (1818-1897), an American inventor who created and patented one of the first practical kerosene lamps in 1859. He appears to have done so independently of Ignacy Lukasiewicz of Poland, who also developed a kerosene lamp in 1853. Earlier, in 1845, he and his brother had introduced sperm oil lanterns. However, the introduction of the kerosene lamp accelerated the substitution of kerosene for whale oil in lighting applications in the U.S. As a fuel, whale oil had inferior properties for light production and had grown more expensive in the mid-nineteenth century due to depletion of whale stocks. The R.E. Dietz Company went on to manufacture hundreds of lantern models, and became a pioneer in the automotive electric lighting industry.
Further Reading
R. E. Dietz Co., Ltd.
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