subject: The History And Manufacture Of Candles [print this page] Today, Ask Toy Tech received an inquiry regarding a subject that is always of great interest during the holiday season: CANDLES
More specifically, the Creativity for Kids Beeswax Candle Making Kit. (See photo, below)
ToysPeriod doesn't as yet carry candle making kits. Perhaps one day.
However, whether we carry an item or not, an inquiry usually evolves into a question, and a question always deserves the best response we at ToysPeriod can conjure without appearing to trip over ourselves philosophically when a straight-from-the-shoulder response is all that is required.
The following is a summary of the discussion that ensued after this inquiry appeared earlier in the week. (Our guess is that it is guilty of some level of tripping):
First Consideration - Intent at the Moment of Ownership
The place of candle making sets in the grand scheme of toys and toy making seems to revolve around the status of the toy when first in the possession of its final owner. With respect to ownership, historically, three general categories seem to immediately present themselves:
First, there are toys secured (and owned) primarily for the pure satisfaction of possessing them. We might lightly refer to this faction of toy owners as the "Do not touch my toys" group. Certain collectors of dolls, miniatures, cards, bottles and their caps and thousands of other items, including pinned insects, may fall into this general category.
Second, there are toys presented to the consumer (owner) fully formed, and treasured, not as part of a collection, but as a result of the promise they represent of creative application. That is, once owned, it is the responsibility of the owner to discover creative ways in which to employ and enjoy them.
For instance, Frisbees thrown from the topmost section of Hoover Dam (don't do this), or more traditionally, a ball (owned) and sent hurtling toward an individual holding another (owned) toy in this category, perhaps with the word SLUGGER emblazoned on its side.
Finally, there are toys which provide the appropriate materials from which other items of value (aesthetic or utilitarian or both) may be molded or formed.
A set for making candles would logically fall into this third group.
Paper, yarn, thread, plaster, clay, paint, wax, tallow, dye, natural oils, woods, and a legion of other materials can be presented to the recipient with the idea of allowing said recipient to enjoy combining, entwining, forming, baking, sewing, etc., the materials into recognizable items to be enjoyed.
Bean bags, candles, straw men, dolls, chairs, trains, cars, houses, ponies (made of other than flesh and bone) can at times credit their existence to this third category of toy.
A Brief History of the Candle
Now, since this particular discussion owes its very existence to an original inquiry regarding a humble candle making set, ToysPeriod's friends felt it only fair to chip in a bit of extra value in this space regarding candles (which they have so labeled "dispensers of light and joy").
One individual offered, "that candles are readily recognizable by children and adults alike as sources of cheer, pleasant aroma and perhaps creators of the relaxing or festive atmosphere." Reaction: HEAR, HEAR!
Thus encouraged, another of the group offered, "There was a time when candles were every bit as essential as the light bulb is today."
Reaction: NO DOUBT!!
And a third, "The first candles were developed by the ancient Egyptians who used torches made by soaking reeds in molten tallow."
Reaction: We are getting warmer!
Like popcorn, here are the remainder of the comments regarding candles that were thrown into the now glowing flame:
"Wicks weren't developed until the Roman period when travelers, including soldiers, along the Appian Way needed light to travel in the dark."
"It was not until the Middle Ages that beeswax was introduced into candle making. Beeswax produces much less smoke than tallow and also smells much sweeter than the acrid odor tallow presents to the environment."
"America's colonial women contributed to candle making by introducing bayberries. Wax made of this berry burns clean and is sweet smelling, but the extracting of the wax from the berries was tedious, so the use of the bayberry soon was snuffed out (pun)."
"In the 18th century, spermaceti, a wax made of whale oil became available in excellent quantity. In addition to the excellent qualities of beeswax, spermaceti wax kept its shape in the heat of summer on a sill, gave off a sweet scent, and burned longer."
"The first candles referred to by historians as "standard" were made of spermaceti wax."
"Machine made candles were first introduced by Joseph Morgan in 1834."
"In 1850, paraffin wax candles became available. Paraffin alone was too soft, but by adding a bit of stearic acid to the mix, the harder, more durable candles that we know today resulted."
Finally, a heretofore silent individual asked about the PERMA-Candle. We were puzzled. We had never before heard tell of a PERMA-Candle.
