Hi, Bob, and keep up the good work--
While working as a demo pilot for the Romanian air force a few years
ago (but that's a whole 'nother story), I saw quite a few of the
"thermopiles" still in operation in rural areas.
The kero lamp in question is a Welsbach mantel type, virtually
identical to the British/American "Aladdin" still in wide use over here.
The thermopile was a special chimney assembly that had a glass lower
section for light, then a vertical metal pipe with the thermocouples
built into the wall. A series of vertical fins on the outside
dissipated the heat. A lampshade was fastened to the outside of the
fins and, I assume, also improved upward convective airflow over them.
The crowning touch in many homes was a teakettle sitting on top of the
whole thing!
best regards, psl
BTW, the thing put out enough juice to light vacuum tubes!
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