|
General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
6th Aug 2019, 6:09 pm | #1 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Greater Manchester
Posts: 305
|
Vintage lighting
Hope this is ok to put on the vintage technology discussion.
I am sure that many of our more seasoned members will remember these items. I had been looking for one of these pressurised paraffin lamps for a few years but they seemed to attract high prices on the usual auction sites. Whilst away on holiday in The Isle of Man a few years ago I noticed one in a friends workshop. I asked if he wanted to sell it and he unhooked it from the back of the door and gave it to me. Naturally I was delighted but he then disappeared into another of his outbuildings and returned with two more! ‘Take them’ he said ‘I have others’ I rewarded him with a substantial amount of Guinness and he seemed very well pleased. I managed to find some new mantles in a hardware shop on the island, (they are radio active by the way),and on returning home dismantled and cleaned the lamps one at a time. Further spares were obtained via the internet, and I was fortunate that a company local to me sell paraffin which burns with very little odour. One lamp still had a tankful of Esso Blue! A little research showed that two of the lamps were made by a company called Vapalux in the 1960’s and the third made by Tilley in the 1980’s. The photos show their original condition, a comparison of the vapour head before and after cleaning, burning in a new mantle, and the lamps in their final condition. I still use one on the shed as it gives very good light, and produces around a KW of heat, great for the winter. Lamps such as these were used in the trenches in WW1. I remember lots of them used on market stalls, and we used them when we went camping of course. There is another model that I would like to find which was a heater and had a large polished reflector. I have only ever seen one and that was in a museum. I also still have a Primus stove but that’s another story. Lynton
__________________
Never buy a mermaid a pair of socks! |
6th Aug 2019, 6:39 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,453
|
Re: Vintage lighting
Very nice.
Like you, I've long fancied one but am not prepared to pay what they sell for given that I've no real use for it. |
6th Aug 2019, 7:24 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,817
|
Re: Vintage lighting
A really good job Lynton. I agree with you and Mr P about not laying out cash for something that isn't a real priority. On the other hand and ironically, your efforts make it clear why others are willing to spend quite a bit to get one
Dave |
6th Aug 2019, 7:36 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,998
|
Re: Vintage lighting
Nice!
I remember back in the early-70s going on a camp with the TA and they had similar pressure-lights, but theirs ran on petrol not paraffin, so there was no faffing-around with pre-heating the things using meths. [We were in Scotland, at Cultybraggan, a site originally used during WWII as a PoW camp but later by the Army - and the lights horribly attracted millions of bloodsucking midges from the surroundings!] |
6th Aug 2019, 7:39 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,106
|
Re: Vintage lighting
I do like these things. A similar lamp was our background lighting for bonfire night in the '70's, i remember the hiss, the greenish-white light and the need to pump it every so often. I also recall being slightly scared of it! I think it was a petrol one. There was an attempt to resurrect it years later but after 3 mantles falling to bits in succession, we gave up.
Now then, where is it.... Dave |
6th Aug 2019, 7:59 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
|
Re: Vintage lighting
|