Introduction
In the 17th century, before the widespread use of electricity, candles were the main source of light in homes at night. Candles were expensive, so frugal homeowners got creative with "hacking" candle wiring setups to maximize their light while minimizing the number of candles needed. This allowed them to get "free" lighting by reducing candle costs.
The High Cost of Candles in the 17th Century
Candles were a daily household expense in the 17th century. Beeswax and tallow candles were costly, and the average family might spend 5% or more of their earnings on candlemaking supplies.
The main factors that contributed to the high price of candles in those days were:
- Limited availability of wax and tallow
- Labor-intensive production - each candle had to be individually dipped and shaped by hand
- Low production scales - no industrial candle production existed
- High demand - candles provided the only source of artificial lighting in homes
As an example, a pound of wax could make 6-8 candles. With wax prices around 1-2 shillings per pound, even a few candles could be costly for poor families.
How Early Homeowners "Hacked" Candle Wiring Setups
To provide household lighting at more affordable costs, 17th century homeowners came up with ingenious ways to stretch their candle usage. Some key techniques included:
Candle Cones and Reflectors
Placing cones, reflectors, or shields around a candle concentrated more light from the candle flame into a focused beam. This made a single candle seem brighter than normal.
A candle with a metal cone reflector to concentrate the light
Strategic Placement Near Walls/Corners
Putting a candle in a corner or near walls allowed the light to bounce and spread farther in a room. This amplified the coverage of a single candle.
"Candle Wheels"
These contraptions used a system of pulleys and gears to rotate multiple candles around a central shaft. Rotating a few candles gave the illusion of many more lights.
An antique mechanical rotating candle holder
Reflective Backdrops
Hanging reflective materials like tin foil or mirrors behind candles increased brightness by redirecting more light forwards.
Outcomes of Early Candle Hacking
The impact of these ingenious candle hacks included:
- Cost savings - Less frequent candle replacement from optimizing single candles
- Improved safety - Less risk of fire with fewer candles needed
- Increased light - Brighter, more spread out lighting coverage
- Better quality of life - More affordable lighting helped productivity and comfort
Although crude compared to modern lighting, these candle wire "hacks" helped 17th century families access cheaper home lighting to read, work, and socialize after sunset. The human capacity for creativity turned the limitations of a bygone era into more livable daily conditions.
Conclusion
The quest for affordable lighting drove early homeowners to creatively "hack" candle wiring setups that maximized light at the lowest cost. Although lighting today is much simpler, we can still admire the resourcefulness and invention required for 17th century families to brighten their homes in an era of darkness.