The sheer quantities of candles used in the 18th century is something I never really considered until reading this post. I love these small anecdotes about how much modern technology has disrupted...
Jefferson's annual order of 200 lbs. of candles would thus provide him with a 15000 hours of single-candle illumination—add in other sources of illumination (lamp oil, etc.), and figure 50 hours for an average day, for Jefferson's establishment would not burn one single lone candle.
The sheer quantities of candles used in the 18th century is something I never really considered until reading this post.
For the same share of our income, we can produce, buy, and use 75000 times as much illumination as back in Jefferson's day.
I love these small anecdotes about how much modern technology has disrupted (and simplified) daily life.
The sheer quantities of candles used in the 18th century is something I never really considered until reading this post.
I love these small anecdotes about how much modern technology has disrupted (and simplified) daily life.