Published by J.B. Colt Company, a New York-based producer of lamps and acetylene products, this small volume is dedicated to marketing the use of acetylene gas in artificial lighting. The work posits the acetylene lamp as the "latest and greatest product of light-science [which] goes a long step beyond electricity." The work includes information about the history and sourcing of acetylene, a description of acetylene's scientific properties, and a listing of the uses and applications of acetylene lamps. The work concludes with a brief section about other products offered by J.B. Colt & Company and an illustration of the "Criterion" Automatic Acetylene Gas Generator.

When burned with the correct amount of air, acetylene gas dispenses a pure, white light. However, the combustion of acetylene produces a large amount of heat and is highly unstable. High pressure or temperatures can result in fire or explosion.