LAMPS AND CANDLES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 47, 24 August 1920, Page 8

LAMPS AND CANDLES

STIMULUS TO DEMAND.

Householders have naturally cast about them to-day to supply themselves with substitutes for cooking and light. Consequently, the demand for candles in the different grocers' stores has been very brisk indeed, and stocks are running rather low already. The candle is the obvious makeshift for a brief emergency, the purchaser gets his light at a minimum of expense, if the usual services are resumed without too long delay. The inconvenience, is probably greater than with oil lamps, but the capital outlay is less. On -the.other Hand, many people' are looking further ahead and buying lamps with the prospect of. having to use them for more than' one evening or so. One big hardware firm in one of the city's main thoroughfares reports unusual business to-day. The sale of oil lamps and incandescent stoves and heaters has been surprising. One peculiar feature is that prominent well-to-do people are conspicuous among the purchasers, indicating a belief that the trouble may be protracted. Other hardware shops, give similar experiences, but report'also many old lamps brought in for repairs.:: There are frequent inquiries for blue-flame oil cookers, but actual purchases are ■ not yet abnormal enoi*;h to constitute. a- rush. The demand for kerosene has been very keen in the principal groceries, and, .as large stocks cannot be kept on the premises under the city bylaws, shortage is probable for the time being at least.