Animation is the speedy display of a series of images of 2-D artwork in order to create an illusion of movement. One of the most common ways of presenting animation is a motion picture or video program, although several other forms of presenting animation also exist. Because of the highly entertaining value it has, animation has been used in films as it has the capacity to attract an audience of various age groups, from 8 to 80.
The use of animation in films probably began in the year 1890. J. Stuart Blackton was the first man who put animation in his film titled 'Humorous Phases of Funny Faces'. The film featured a cartoonist drawing faces on a chalkboard, and the faces actually coming to life. After that many filmmakers and producers started using various animations in their films that apparently brought life to their pictures.
Soon, the stage came where the audience gradually got the chance to see films or movies where each and every character was animated. Those are full fledged animated movies. If we take a look at the list of the block bluster movies, we will be surprised to find that animation movies are equally contributing to this list.
Movies like The Lion King, Shrek, Monsters, Toy Story, Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Ice Age, Tarzan, A Bug's Life, etc. are considered as the top 10 animated movies both by the viewers and critics. Giant entertainment companies like Walt Disney, Pixar, Fox Entertainment, Dream Works, etc. have invested millions of dollars behind these animated movies and their profit was also up to the expectation.
The Lion King produced by Walt Disney Feature Production is one of the most thought provoking animated movies. It was originally titled the King of the Jungle. In order to achieve perfection the animators who worked on this movie studied the activities and the movements of real life animals too. In fact the filmmakers were such perfectionists that they went to Kenya to study the natural habitat that is used as a background in the film. The film featured green grass, the smoke from the fire, and the waterfall, all presented in perfect animation. The characters were built using 3D computer programmes that looked perfect.
Shrek is based upon a fairy tale picture produced by Dream Works. Though the film is meant for children, the theme has also attracted adults. The plot of the movie is simple and humorous. In fact this movie became so popular that computer games were made on Shrek.
Aladdin, the animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, is based on the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp of Arabian Nights. The character of Aladdin was drawn by keeping in mind the faces of various Hollywood heroes and at the end it was decided that he would look like Tom Cruise. Special computer animations were used to develop some scenes of the movie. Some such instances are the full view of the palace, the magic carpet, the breaking up of the cave, etc.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, produced in 1937 by Walt Disney, is considered as one of the first commercially successful animation films. The film is a pioneer in many ways. It took three years to make this film because at that time the animations were not developed. They used many techniques that were in the primary stage of development at that time. They used animations to create rain, lightning, water, reflections, sparkles, magic, etc.
Toy Story, produced by Pixar Animation Studio is an animated movie that is fully created on computer. The story revolves around the toys of a nine year old boy and the story of the film is told from the toy's point of view.
A Bug's Life, again produced by Pixar Animation Studio and released in 1998, tells the tale of ants which think that they are warrior bugs and they have the courage to fight with the greedy grasshoppers. John Lasseter directed it. The story is based on the famous Aesop's fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper.
One can see that most of the animation movies are meant for children. But elders also equally enjoy these because these animation movies have various layers of meaning. With the rapid developments in various animated software, one can surely expect a solid future in producing animation films.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Whose Life Are You Living? Why you may be living someone else's life and how you can take back what's yours
On most days, do you feel energetic, enthusiastic, and satisfied with your life? If not, perhaps it's because you've given up control of your life to others. Many of us give up accountability for our lives, depending on others for our information, advice, and decisions. Each life is unique. Each life belongs only to one person-we normally realize that fact, but still often give up accountability to others. Sometimes it's easier that way, though less satisfying.
It's not surprising that this occurs so frequently. In our early years, we look outside of ourselves for everything we require. As young children, we are totally dependent on parents or caregivers for our very lives. They feed, clothe, and shelter us. We remain alive and secure only to the degree they continue to provide for our needs. Later, our parents teach us the rules of childhood living-the do's and don'ts of every aspect of life in their home.
We go to school and learn the three R's, as well as cultural norms for getting along in classroom and playground. Perhaps we have religious training, providing the rules of God according to the religion of our parents. Again, all selected for us. It's not until our teens that we begin to question; then we question everything, to the dismay of so many parents. But then we also learn a new set of rules-staying in the good graces, if not being popular, among our peers. We enter sports, hobbies, band, music, dance, and many other activities, each with an adult teaching us.
Late teens, perhaps early twenties, and we're now adults, perhaps even parents ourselves. Are we still looking to others for the rules of life? Perhaps, and it shouldn't surprise us, for now newspapers, magazines, movies, and certainly TV all bombard us with their views of life, often describing views of life bearing little resemblance to real life itself. So-called reality shows are a prime example. Depicted as real life, these shows are tightly scripted and managed for optimum viewer attraction.
Are you living the life of your dreams, or the life someone else has dreamed for you? Or perhaps you feel that life happens to you, that you are the recipient, with your only control being your ability to choose how to react
It may be helpful to think of life as a play, someone writes the script, someone directs the actors, and someone plays the starring role. Thinking of your life, put names to each of these: scriptwriter, director, and star. Did you put your name down three times? To feel fully alive and have a chance at a fulfilling and satisfying life, we must recognize that we are all three; scriptwriter, director, and star. We are living the life we scripted, even if we took on the script of someone else's life. It was still our decision to do so.
If you're a person who hasn't been fully in charge of your life, you might be feeling discouraged about now, but the awareness that you've been giving up control of your life can be the beginning of an exciting new journey into self development. Can you recall the day-dreams you had as a child? Do you remember the excitement and wonder you felt at seeing yourself in your day-dream future? The enthusiasm you felt for life when you were eight years old can be yours again at twenty eight, thirty eight, or fifty eight. Life is exciting, a wonderful adventure-but only when it's your life.
If your life now seems a boring, unsatisfying, and humdrum day to day existence, why not start writing a new story? Just for the fun of it, take out a piece of blank paper and put this at the top: My New Life Story. But before you start writing anything, do this. Remember the story of Aladdin's Lamp? Aladdin found a magic lamp and when he rubbed it a genie appeared granting him three wishes. Well, you've just found your magic lamp. Rub it and see the genie appear, granting you the power to wish anything for your life that you desire.
Now go back to your piece of paper with My New Life Story at the top, and start writing. Write the next chapter of your life. Describe the star of your story in great detail. The star is you. How do you feel? What do you do? Who are you with? Does this new story excite you? Does it feel more like the real you? Don't answer these questions with your head; your heart will tell you the truth. You'll know deep inside if what you've written is the right path for you. It may be scary to think about, but if it feels right then it is right.
At this point, perhaps your initial excitement starts to wane and you've put down your pen in frustration, discouraged and thinking that this just isn't practical; it's unrealistic, just another day-dream. This is your ego protecting the status quo. Change is hard, and it can be frightening, but dreams do come true.
Scientists know that people who visualize their goals in great detail and with strong emotion, generally achieve those goals. You, too, can change your life, though not instantly as in the Aladdin story. Even though it will take some time, energy, and courage to change, taking control of your life can be very satisfying in itself. Just knowing that you are in charge, responsible and accountable for your life can bring new satisfaction and fulfillment to each day. Life's difficulties and challenges can become more manageable, seen more as temporary obstacles than permanent blocks.
Once you decide to take back control of your life you'll probably find yourself picking up books, magazines and internet sites that provide self improvement advice. Read as much as you can. Try on suggestions for improvement. If they seem to fit keep them, if not discard them. Your path of growth is unique, just as you are unique.
This article was originally published by and appeared at Suite101.com, where I am a contributing editor. Find additional self-empowerment articles and participate in discussions at http://www.Suite101.com/Welcome.cfm/9822How to Shed Weight Without Those Long Hours in the Gymnasium?
Medical science is doing wonders nowadays. A plastic surgeon in California can perform a simple cosmetic surgery to give desired look and shape to the body of a person. A man in Beverly Hills who wishes to reshape his nose can get it done through a plastic surgeon. In fact every part of the body can be toned in the desired manner. Here is a detail of how you can cut fat without long workout sessions in the gymnasium.
Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck
Many people complain of obesity which spoils the beauty of the body. For such problems Abdominoplasty and tummy tuck are the way out. In abdominoplasty and tummy tuck a plastic surgeon removes the excess fat surgerically. Under abdominoplasty the abdomen region is reshaped by the plastic surgeon and in tummy tuck the surplus fat is removed to give a healthy look to the body. The technique of abdominoplasty and tummy tuck helps to keep obesity away and maintains the beauty of the body.
Mommy Makeover
Generally after pregnancy ladies suffer from the problem of obesity and their body becomes plump. To get their body in perfect shape they just need to visit a plastic surgeon in California. They can get a mommy makeover to get back their body in shape after a prolonged pregnancy. Ladies have found mommy makeover as the biggest boon bestowed upon them. They can join back their friends in the Beverly Hills without any hesitation.
Liposuction/body Contouring
Similarly, for those with ill fitting clothes, a Liposuction surgeon in California or Beverly Hills can offer you a solution through Liposuction. Liposuction is a procedure that involves reduction of butt fat. Through a body contouring technique, you can be assured that your clothes will fit in properly. Several liposuction surgeries have taken place in the Beverly Hills. There are many takers in the California region too. The body contouring procedure helps the patient to customize his/her body shape with the help of a plastic surgeon. The body shape is restructured here through surgical techniques.
Nasal Surgery/Septal Surgery/Rhinoplasty
Our face is the best part of our appearance. Many people have problems with the shape of their nose. Nose has different shapes and the shape of the face decides the shape of the nose best suited. Nowadays plastic surgeons can reshape the nose so that it suits the face of the person. Nasal surgery is one of the techniques used by the plastic surgeons to operate upon the nose. Many people have pointed nose or rounded nose, Rhinoplasty or nasal surgery helps such people to get the best shape of the nose. Length of the nose is decide by the nasal septum which the wall between the two nostrils. Plastic surgeons also operate upon the nasal septum through septal surgery to give the right length to the nose.
Thus, a plastic surgeon in California or Beverly Hills can find a solution to every ailment of yours and make you feel better in the society. You can drop those extra pounds through abdominoplasty and tummy tuck, regain your shape after pregnancy with the mommy makeover available or even reshape your nose through septal surgery and nasal surgery. Isn't it something like the Aladdin Lamp in your hand and the Genie by your side?
Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck
Many people complain of obesity which spoils the beauty of the body. For such problems Abdominoplasty and tummy tuck are the way out. In abdominoplasty and tummy tuck a plastic surgeon removes the excess fat surgerically. Under abdominoplasty the abdomen region is reshaped by the plastic surgeon and in tummy tuck the surplus fat is removed to give a healthy look to the body. The technique of abdominoplasty and tummy tuck helps to keep obesity away and maintains the beauty of the body.
Mommy Makeover
Generally after pregnancy ladies suffer from the problem of obesity and their body becomes plump. To get their body in perfect shape they just need to visit a plastic surgeon in California. They can get a mommy makeover to get back their body in shape after a prolonged pregnancy. Ladies have found mommy makeover as the biggest boon bestowed upon them. They can join back their friends in the Beverly Hills without any hesitation.
Liposuction/body Contouring
Similarly, for those with ill fitting clothes, a Liposuction surgeon in California or Beverly Hills can offer you a solution through Liposuction. Liposuction is a procedure that involves reduction of butt fat. Through a body contouring technique, you can be assured that your clothes will fit in properly. Several liposuction surgeries have taken place in the Beverly Hills. There are many takers in the California region too. The body contouring procedure helps the patient to customize his/her body shape with the help of a plastic surgeon. The body shape is restructured here through surgical techniques.
Nasal Surgery/Septal Surgery/Rhinoplasty
Our face is the best part of our appearance. Many people have problems with the shape of their nose. Nose has different shapes and the shape of the face decides the shape of the nose best suited. Nowadays plastic surgeons can reshape the nose so that it suits the face of the person. Nasal surgery is one of the techniques used by the plastic surgeons to operate upon the nose. Many people have pointed nose or rounded nose, Rhinoplasty or nasal surgery helps such people to get the best shape of the nose. Length of the nose is decide by the nasal septum which the wall between the two nostrils. Plastic surgeons also operate upon the nasal septum through septal surgery to give the right length to the nose.
Thus, a plastic surgeon in California or Beverly Hills can find a solution to every ailment of yours and make you feel better in the society. You can drop those extra pounds through abdominoplasty and tummy tuck, regain your shape after pregnancy with the mommy makeover available or even reshape your nose through septal surgery and nasal surgery. Isn't it something like the Aladdin Lamp in your hand and the Genie by your side?
Moroccan Lamps: Moroccan Lamps – Add Some Beauty and Ambience
Moroccan Lamps. and Moroccan lighting traditions: A few centuries back, the best way to brighten a home was by using henna lamps or any other lamps for that matter. Lamps can create magic and give your home a look that you have desired for so long yet you could never find that style that will do it. Maybe these lamps are nowhere near the Aladdin’s lamp but they sure have the ability to captivate you or your friends. It may not be as bright as the halogen bulbs you installed in your living room but they have a subtle and charismatic appeal that cannot be ignored.
Maybe you have halogen bulbs installed in every room and every room probably looks the same. But do you remember the time when you went out on this wilderness trail and camped under a sky full of stars. The only bright object was the lamp that lit up the fire of romance in your heart. That’s the power of Moroccan lamps. It can change the entire ambience of your house. From being a dwelling with four wooden or concrete walls with some basic furnishing, you can change it to being a real home by adding a few Moroccan lamps. The touch and feel of earth has always been great and the Moroccan lamps create that earthy feeling, which you have longed for such a long time.
One of the most beautiful of them all is the Moroccan henna leather lamps, which will add a class and bring elegance to your living room as well as your life. Your neighbors would stare at them, look at you with envy and ask you where you found them. The Moroccan Henna lampshade is a symbol of subtleness mixed with style and any thing that is related to art, history and culture is always looked at as being a class apart. These lamps are unique decoration items and they will add some color to your otherwise normal life. You can place them anywhere be it on top of the piano or the fireplace or place them gently over the center table. They have this uncanny nature of fitting in anywhere and everywhere.
Are you ready to purchase a Moroccan henna leather lamp? Before that lets take a look at what is the specialty of the lamp and where does it come from. Firstly, let us understand what henna really is. Henna is a plant, which is used to make a dye. This dye is traditionally extracted from the dry henna leaves and used in decorative art. Henna is applied on hands and feet of mostly women as a decoration in various parts of the world. It is even used for decorating the hand of the bride in marriages in Northern India. In Morocco, henna is used for creating exotic designs for the leather lamps and lanterns. It is also known as Mehndi, in North Africa including Morocco, India, and the Middle East. It has traveled from all these countries to North America and is gaining popularity due to its subtleness, beauty and ability to be used in intricate designs.
The Moroccan henna leather lamps are made by professional artisans who have been doing it for centuries and the skill gets passed on from one generation to another. This is the exact reason why these lamps are unique. The best part is that no two henna lamps will have the same design. The lamps are made from goatskin with each section being hand-tied to a frame and finally the henna is applied for creating beautiful designs on the leather. Since so much effort goes into making a single henna lamp hence it is like a piece of treasure and owning one means that you belong to the elite class of people. It will become an integral part of your interior decoration.
The Moroccan Lamps are available in different shape and size and you can choose from a variety of designs, half of which are unique. You can choose a lamp according to the existing decor or even the size of your room. You can hang the lamp from the ceiling or place it on the bed side table or event compliment them with henna wall sconces. Wherever you choose to put it, it is definitely going to glorify the surrounding and make your home look beautiful. If you have wrought iron decorations in your home then the mix of wrought iron denoting the Victorian era mixed with the Moroccan lamps denoting the early civilizations will create an intoxicating environment.
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Maybe you have halogen bulbs installed in every room and every room probably looks the same. But do you remember the time when you went out on this wilderness trail and camped under a sky full of stars. The only bright object was the lamp that lit up the fire of romance in your heart. That’s the power of Moroccan lamps. It can change the entire ambience of your house. From being a dwelling with four wooden or concrete walls with some basic furnishing, you can change it to being a real home by adding a few Moroccan lamps. The touch and feel of earth has always been great and the Moroccan lamps create that earthy feeling, which you have longed for such a long time.
One of the most beautiful of them all is the Moroccan henna leather lamps, which will add a class and bring elegance to your living room as well as your life. Your neighbors would stare at them, look at you with envy and ask you where you found them. The Moroccan Henna lampshade is a symbol of subtleness mixed with style and any thing that is related to art, history and culture is always looked at as being a class apart. These lamps are unique decoration items and they will add some color to your otherwise normal life. You can place them anywhere be it on top of the piano or the fireplace or place them gently over the center table. They have this uncanny nature of fitting in anywhere and everywhere.
Are you ready to purchase a Moroccan henna leather lamp? Before that lets take a look at what is the specialty of the lamp and where does it come from. Firstly, let us understand what henna really is. Henna is a plant, which is used to make a dye. This dye is traditionally extracted from the dry henna leaves and used in decorative art. Henna is applied on hands and feet of mostly women as a decoration in various parts of the world. It is even used for decorating the hand of the bride in marriages in Northern India. In Morocco, henna is used for creating exotic designs for the leather lamps and lanterns. It is also known as Mehndi, in North Africa including Morocco, India, and the Middle East. It has traveled from all these countries to North America and is gaining popularity due to its subtleness, beauty and ability to be used in intricate designs.
The Moroccan henna leather lamps are made by professional artisans who have been doing it for centuries and the skill gets passed on from one generation to another. This is the exact reason why these lamps are unique. The best part is that no two henna lamps will have the same design. The lamps are made from goatskin with each section being hand-tied to a frame and finally the henna is applied for creating beautiful designs on the leather. Since so much effort goes into making a single henna lamp hence it is like a piece of treasure and owning one means that you belong to the elite class of people. It will become an integral part of your interior decoration.
The Moroccan Lamps are available in different shape and size and you can choose from a variety of designs, half of which are unique. You can choose a lamp according to the existing decor or even the size of your room. You can hang the lamp from the ceiling or place it on the bed side table or event compliment them with henna wall sconces. Wherever you choose to put it, it is definitely going to glorify the surrounding and make your home look beautiful. If you have wrought iron decorations in your home then the mix of wrought iron denoting the Victorian era mixed with the Moroccan lamps denoting the early civilizations will create an intoxicating environment.
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Aladdin (DVD) Review
Anxious to follow up on the massive commercial and critical success of Beauty And The Beast, Disney created another animated masterpiece with Aladdin. Although not nearly as successful in terms of critical acclaim as the aforementioned film, or later Disney creations such as The Lion King and Finding Nemo, Aladdin is nevertheless just as entertaining and probably the funniest of all the animated Disney features. With the voice of Robin Williams leading the way, the film is a non-stop foray into the timeless fantasy world of A Thousand And One Arabian Nights spliced together with the rapier-like wit and quick-fire humor of one of America's most talented comic performers...
The film takes place hundreds of years ago in the windswept sands of the kingdom of Agrabah, where a young street urchin named Aladdin wanders the streets, stealing and hustling for survival. Along the way, he's joined by his loyal companion Abu, a clever and enterprising monkey. Yet, in stark contrast to the poverty-ridden streets below, the lustrous facade of a massive palace towers high above the urban world of Aladdin. Inside, the Sultan of Agrabah lives a carefree life of opulence and luxury with his beautiful daughter Jasmine and a cunning, ambitious adviser named Jafar.
Forced to spend her days inside the palace walls, the headstrong Princess Jasmine sneaks out in order to experience the world around her. During this dangerous trek through the streets of her kingdom, the girl befriends Aladdin who is immediately awestruck by her beauty. But when Princess Jasmine's escape is brought to the attention of Jafar and her father, she is quickly rounded up, and Aladdin is thrown in prison. Hoping to seize the kingdom for himself, Jafar enlists the aid of Aladdin in an effort to obtain a fabled magic lamp, the purported powers of which are unlimited. Legend has it that only a "diamond in the rough" is capable of retrieving the lamp from the Cave of Wonders. All others will be swallowed whole by the endless sands of the desert.
When Aladdin fails in Jafar's quest, he is left for dead. But he soon discovers the mysterious lamp and the blue genie who resides within. Granting Aladdin the ultimate power of three wishes (with certain conditions such as not wishing for more wishes or wishing for someone to fall in love with you), the genie transforms Aladdin into a powerful Prince, thus making him eligible to marry Princess Jasmine. Riding into Agrabah at the helm of a triumphant parade, only Jafar knows the true secret of Aladdin's identity and his success, and he's determined to scheme and connive until he gains control of the magic lamp himself...
Aside from Robin Williams, this film is easily forgettable. With him, Aladdin is transformed into a legendary blockbuster hit. In fact, the later appearances of comic voices in animated films such as Shrek (Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy), Mulan (Eddie Murphy), Finding Nemo (Ellen DeGeneres), and The Lion King (Nathan Lane
The film takes place hundreds of years ago in the windswept sands of the kingdom of Agrabah, where a young street urchin named Aladdin wanders the streets, stealing and hustling for survival. Along the way, he's joined by his loyal companion Abu, a clever and enterprising monkey. Yet, in stark contrast to the poverty-ridden streets below, the lustrous facade of a massive palace towers high above the urban world of Aladdin. Inside, the Sultan of Agrabah lives a carefree life of opulence and luxury with his beautiful daughter Jasmine and a cunning, ambitious adviser named Jafar.
Forced to spend her days inside the palace walls, the headstrong Princess Jasmine sneaks out in order to experience the world around her. During this dangerous trek through the streets of her kingdom, the girl befriends Aladdin who is immediately awestruck by her beauty. But when Princess Jasmine's escape is brought to the attention of Jafar and her father, she is quickly rounded up, and Aladdin is thrown in prison. Hoping to seize the kingdom for himself, Jafar enlists the aid of Aladdin in an effort to obtain a fabled magic lamp, the purported powers of which are unlimited. Legend has it that only a "diamond in the rough" is capable of retrieving the lamp from the Cave of Wonders. All others will be swallowed whole by the endless sands of the desert.
When Aladdin fails in Jafar's quest, he is left for dead. But he soon discovers the mysterious lamp and the blue genie who resides within. Granting Aladdin the ultimate power of three wishes (with certain conditions such as not wishing for more wishes or wishing for someone to fall in love with you), the genie transforms Aladdin into a powerful Prince, thus making him eligible to marry Princess Jasmine. Riding into Agrabah at the helm of a triumphant parade, only Jafar knows the true secret of Aladdin's identity and his success, and he's determined to scheme and connive until he gains control of the magic lamp himself...
Aside from Robin Williams, this film is easily forgettable. With him, Aladdin is transformed into a legendary blockbuster hit. In fact, the later appearances of comic voices in animated films such as Shrek (Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy), Mulan (Eddie Murphy), Finding Nemo (Ellen DeGeneres), and The Lion King (Nathan Lane
ALADDIN LAMP TIPS
Aladdin Lamp Enjoyment Tips
The Aladdin is a tried and tested lamp with nearly a century of use all over the globe. Literally hundreds of thousands of people are still enjoying the use of Aladdins worldwide. These tips are provided to enable you to get the most pleasure and long use from your Aladdin with the minimum of trouble and bother.
1. FILLING ALADDINS IN WINTER
Always re-fill your Aladdin with good, clean, fresh kerosene (genuine Aladdin Lamp Oil or K-1 Grade Kerosene is recommended). The fuel must be at room temperature before adding to the lamp. To do otherwise causes condensation inside the bottom of the lamp bowl. The wick will then draw up this condensed water causing it to sputter and burn unevenly - thus a poor light.
2. FILLING LEVEL
Fill to about ONE HALF INCH (1/2) BELOW FILLER CAP. This will give you many hours of burning without the fuel expanding into the burner and causing a flooding condition - which will result in a lamp dripping fuel. A lamp holds about one quart genuine Aladdin Lamp Oil, which will provide 10 - 12 hours of steady bright, white light.
3. FILLING IN SUMMER
Your Aladdin will obviously have only limited use during the summer months - perhaps for late romantic dining - or just sheer pleasure. Always keep the lamp at least half full during the summer months to avoid the wick drying out. Check daily after use. This is especially important with the hanging Aladdins. LAMP OIL SWELLS IN SUMMER'S HEAT. If the lamp is filled to capacity, oil will flood the base of the burner and this will cause fuel spillage.
4. ALADDIN WICKS
Wicks last for hundreds of hours of operation, if used properly and the lamp is kept from running dry. KEEP ALL PARTS OF THE LAMP CLEAN - ALL THE TIME. Stale fuel deposits will cause any oil lamp to smell. Refill often with genuine Aladdin Lamp Oil or fresh, clean K-1 grade kerosene. Always use the genuine Aladdin wick cleaner. It has the correct profile to properly clean the excess carbon from the wick's burning surface. NEVER USE SCISSORS TO TRIM YOUR WICK. The profile will be incorrect and the mantle will not light properly. The carbon char on the wick's burning surface is necessary for smooth burning, but excess carbon disturbs the profile and should be removed only with wick cleaner. When changing an Aladdin wick, always make sure to the wick is absolutely dry. Follow the instructions on the wick carton and refrain from touching the top of the wick itself, as to not deform the burning surface. Make sure the wick slides smoothly up and down after attaching to the wick raiser. After many years of service, it may be necessary to remove the wick and polish the tube upon which the wick moves for smooth operation.
5. ALADDIN WICK CHARRING
It is important to have a properly charred wick in order for your Aladdin to produce a good even blue flame. To char wick: (a) Remove gallery and flame spreader. (b) Turn wick up 1/8" above outer wick tube. (c) Dip top of wick into Aladdin lamp oil briefly (about 5 seconds). (d) Light wick and let it burn until flame goes out (3 to 5 minutes). (e) Allow top of wick to smolder or glow until completely out. (f) Use Aladdin wick cleaner to smooth top of wick. Reinstall flame spreader and gallery assembly. NOTE: WICK must be completely dry in order to char wick top.
6. CHIMNEY CLEANING
Use warm water and mild detergent. MAKE SURE THE CHIMNEY IS THOROUGHLY DRIED BEFORE FITTING ONTO THE LAMP. Damp chimneys break more easily.
7. LIGHTING BURNER
Remove the gallery, mantle and chimney as one unit. When lighting the burner, let the flame form a complete ring around the flame spreader without turning up the wick too high. When you put the gallery back onto the lamp (with the mantle and chimney in place) turn up the wick until incandescence of the mantle is jut visible - and only just!
8. BURNING THE LAMP
Leave the lamp in this state (#6 above) to warm up for ten minutes or so. This will increase the chimney draft and thus increase the fuel flow to the wick tip. Then turn up the light. As the burner heats up, the oil being capillarized by the wick will thin out, thus increasing the oil flow to the wick tip. NEVER turn up the lamp to full brightness immediately. Doing so will cause too much fuel to flow into the burner and upset the air-to-fuel ratio of 94% air and 6% fuel. The result will be a sooted up mantle with black spots at best - and a runaway lamp at worst. NEVER LEAVE A LIGHTED ALADDIN UNATTENDED. NEVER TOUCH THE GALLERY OR CHIMNEY OF A LIT ALADDIN OR ONE RECENTLY EXTINGUISHED - SERIOUS BURN INJURY COULD RESULT!
9. ENJOYMENT AND PLEASURE
Your Aladdin Kerosene Mantle Lamp will give you many years of trouble-free service with only normal replacement of mantles and wicks. Use it, enjoy it, and tell a friend about the mystical and magical Aladdin lamp that give out the soft, white light without the need for electric power.
Mr. John Claypole of England, stated it best: "The Aladdin is a 'Magical and Mystical' light. A light without fuss or noise, without cables or pipes. In a shack or a mansion, in a cottage or in a castle - light where you want it and when you want it; that's The Timeless Aladdin!"
http://www.survivalunlimited.com/lanternsstoves/aladdintips.htmTips and Tricks for Aladdin Lamps
1. How do I clean the burners on the Aladdin lamps I buy?
What has worked for me on brass burners is a cleaner called "CLR" which can be found in most hardware stores. Take the burner apart and soak the parts in a 1 to 1 mixture of CLR and water. On real dirty burners you may want to leave them soak over night. Use a small brush to scrub them off the next morning and rinse with water. Once clean, dry all the parts with a hand held hair dryer. This heats up the parts and dries the cracks and crevices you can't reach! Now use Brasso (also found at your local hardware store or super market) to polish up the brass. It will look like new when you are done.
2. What about my nickel burners?
Use easy off oven cleaner--the yellow top can. Take the burner apart and spray down the parts with the oven cleaner. Let them set for five or ten minutes and then wash then down with water. (Wear plastic or rubber gloves when working with it!) You may need to repeat this a couple of times, but the burners should clean up nicely. Again when done, use a hand held hair dryer to dry the parts. You can polish the burners up using Silvo--found right beside the Brasso in the hardware store or super market.
3. Funny, a hair dryer can be such a tool in lamp collecting . Try it for burners that are frozen in lamps. Remove the parts of the burner that you can, then take a hand held hair dryer and set it to high heat. Keep it just three or four inches from the burner and heat the burner up good. Turn the base slowly so you heat the burner all the way around. Use a hot pad holder once the burner is hot and see if it will unscrew from the lamp. Don't use a lot of force, it should turn out with normal pressure. If it doesn't let it cool down for a while and then repeat the process. I have never failed to get a frozen burner out of a lamp using this method. One caution---do not do this if the lamp is cold from being outside or with a lamp that has kerosene in it! (Be very careful when working on the glass jointed lamps if using this process.)
4. You will hear people talking about the "Amberina" in the red Aladdin lamps. This refers to that part of a red lamp that appears to be more amber than red--usually most noticeable on the outer most rim of the foot and traveling upward toward the font. The less Amberina and the darker the red color, the more desirable the lamp. The Amberina is best judged with the red lamp sitting on a white surface. Since you may often find them sitting on a dark table or other dark surface, try carrying a white sheet of paper with you. Computer printer paper works very well. Place the lamp on the white paper and you should easily see the degree of Amberina in the foot. The less, the better. This also works well for judging the color of other dark colored lamps such as amber or cobalt.
5. Where can I get small brushes to clean my burners?
Try a music store. Find where the school band rents or buys their instruments. You will find all kinds of brushes made to clean these instruments. They are made to reach into small cracks and crevices and to take a lot of abuse as well. And most of them don't cost a lot either!
6. What does a black light do and where can I get one?
A black light can be used to tell the "old formula" alacite from the new. The old formula will glow a yellowish green color under a black light, while the new formula will not glow at all. You can also use the black light to spot cracks or repairs. Most new glues will glow under a black light, as well as cracks in the glass. The only problem you will have is that most places where you find lamps aren't dark enough for the black light to work properly. You may need to try putting it under a table, or if they will allow you, take it to a closet or restroom where you can turn off the light and use your black light. Some antique malls have black lights available that they may let you use to examine merchandise or they may have them for sale. I have a small one that I purchased at the local "Brass Armadillo Antique Mall" that will easily fit into a purse or belt pack. I also have a larger one that I purchased through "Bass Pro Shops". The larger one was actually cheaper and gives off a lot more light but isn't quite as portable. It can however fit nicely into the trunk of your car and doubles as an emergency light since it has two blacklight tubes and two fluorescent tubes!
7. How do I tell a reproduction lamp from an old lamp?
This question is most often asked in reference to the tall and short Lincoln drape Aladdin lamps, which are the only two lamps reproduced by Aladdin or anyone else. The differences are simple to see if you know where to look. For the short Lincoln drapes, simply look at where the burner screws into the lamp--if there is a raised metal collar, the lamp is new. The tall Lincoln drapes take a little more examining. The key difference is that the old lamps were molded as one piece, while the reproductions were molded in two pieces and glued together. You will be able to see where the bowl is glued to the stem just above the filigree design of the stem. Also note that the mold lines on the stem and the bowl will not line up on the new lamps. If you turn the lamp upside down and look at the pattern on the bottom (commonly referred to as the "crows feet") you will see a pattern of faint lines running across the band containing the crows feet design. (They can be quite faint so you may need a magnifying glass.) The presence of these lines means the lamp is old, the absence means it is new.
8. Ever wonder what you should use to glue Aladdin lamps like the Corinthians, Queens, or Orientals together?
I know I'll get a little heat from this one so lets put it to use. Try a hot glue gun and make sure to use a slow setting glue stick. I know that many people will say this isn't "original", but since it doesn't show, and allows you to take the lamp back apart by simply heating with a hair dryer--I say it's as close as you will get! The slow setting glue will allow you to position the foot and font better before the glue takes hold. It really doesn't matter what they were originally held together with, since you can't get whatever it was today anyway! I would shy away from glues such as epoxy because the fix is pretty permanent. Leave your options open just in case. I know if I ever get clumsy handling a lamp I would like to be able to separate the parts and fix what I broke! I would not recommend this glue for any other fixes on a lamp---just for gluing the base and foot on those lamps that were originally held together by a similar glue!!
9. A word of caution! Often when inspecting or cleaning lamps you will remove the oil fill cap and run your finger in the hole to see if you can feel any glue, or to make sure the glass hasn't been broken---be very careful and especially so on lamps that have recessed oil fills. (Where the oil fill cap screws into threads that are glued down in the lamp. (like the Venetians and Cathedrals.) The recessed metal threads may not cover all the glass and that glass is sharp! It pays to inspect this area for repairs or cracks but do it with a very light pressure to avoid being cut. Yes I found this out the hard way, and more than once--I'm a slow learner!!
10. One of the first things you will want to do when you get your lamp home is to clean it up. If you find a nice painted Orientale ( I know you are smart enough not to use a cleaner that will harm the paint right?) just wash it off in nice warm soapy water so you don't hurt the paint--everybody knows that huh? Well when you do this and your pretty green Orientale suddenly looks like you washed it in milk-- then dries down with a white opaque layer covering all that pretty green-- don't get hysterical. Get a shoe shine brush, and buff that lamp!! I'm not sure whether this phenomenon is due to someone putting auto wax on the lamp, or something in the finish from the factory, but it will buff back to a shine if you keep at it. It happened to me, and after my wife and I got over crying, I decided to try the shoe shine brush just in case it was wax. Sure enough it buffed out looking as good as new, but it was an experience I could have done without!
11. One thing a lot of people don't think about when out looking for Aladdin lamps, is to carry the tools with them that will help them judge their condition. I would suggest getting a belt pack--commonly referred to as a "fanny pack"--which will easily allow you to carry a few simple tools along with you. Invaluable tools are: a black light, a piece of white paper or cloth, a magnifying glass (the ones with a small light built in are great), and a small tape measure. I have also included a small flashlight that has the lens mounted on the end of a flexible cable. I can remove the burner from the lamp, then bend the cable at a 90 degree angle and put the lens inside the oil font. This allows me to backlight the glass bringing out any flaws in the color or glass! Having these tools with you will give you a real advantage in judging the condition of any lamp you might find.
I hoped this will help some of you. Good luck and good hunting!
http://www.aladdincollector.com/tips.html
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