this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2026
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What exactly is he doing?
Streetlamps back then weren't electric, but typically gas (or sometimes oil) - they need to be lit with an open flame before they can start operating. The wick in this case is on a long pole so he doesn't have to climb up the ladder for every lamp on his route.
Do you know where the gas cane from? Stored in the lamp or is there even a pipe to the lantern. Such an explosive risk either way, kind of crazy to think about nowadays.
Piped in (underground ) from a central gasworks. I'm not sure if they were on the same municipal gas system as the gaslight in homes, but it seems likely.
Actually, in this picture it looks to me more like morning and he's extinguishing the lamp, turning off the gas. But I could be wrong.