BoxCameras.com - Kerosene Safelights, circa 1895-1905

Kerosene Darkroom Safelights, circa 1895-1910
Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester Optical Co., & Rochester Optical & Camera Co.

The darkroom safelights above are all from the turn-of-the-20th-Century. In an era where electricity was still a novelty, they burned kerosene to provide light for the photographer in his darkroom. Most kerosene safelights of the time were supplied with two panes of colored glass - amber and red - for contact printing and film loading/unloading/developing.

Rust is very common on these early kerosene safelights since once the flame was extinguished, the lamp's surfaces were a target for condensation in a cool darkroom. Those safelights that exhibit a near-perfect painted finish probably were either never used or repainted.

Advertisement for the Rochester Optical Co. Carlton Lantern (black lantern illustrated above)

This Kodak kerosene safelight (No. 2 Kodak Dark Room Lamp) dates to 1905-1910. The red paint is original; many safelights were painted red or maroon; the black R.O.C. No. 1 Carlton safelight in the picture above was repainted at some point.

The original boxes rarely survived the rigors of the darkroom; very often they are found as this one is on the left - beat up and with kerosene stains. As is mentioned in a few other places within this site, the fact that a camera or other item displays use is not a disheartening factor, but rather a tribute to the fact that it served its purpose well.