Kerosene found a ready market in home illumination,
replacing vegetable oils. In response to customer
needs, Standard Oil developed small tin kerosene
lamps known as Mei Foo. Millions of Mei Foo lamps
were supplied throughout the country. They were
either sold inexpensively at a few cents each, or given
away with the first case of kerosene. Customer
response was tremendous. Kerosene sales boomed,
making China the company’s largest market in Asia.