Hello. I was tempted by the lamp addiction and couldn't resist. I just know it's a carbide lamp but I can't imagine what is missing here. A shade? Who could made it, where or when? Any advice? Thank you.
A shade is definately missing on that one. Sweden manufactured hundreds of different table lamp models for calcium carbide, and many look a bit like that one. I'm not saying that this one is Swedish, but the similarity suggest that also the shade should be similar, and generally the carbide lamps of this kind had a round opal globe. In some cases they also used a vesta type or such. Similar to the one on the cabinet in the background. You don't have any markings on your lamp, do you?
Thank you, Christen I could imagine a round globe like the one used on this, your, lamp Tillverkare but I can't imagine how to fix it. It should be there some kind of holder The only inscription is on the jet (can we tell it as a jet or the proper name is different?) and it's written Deutsch so I assume the lamp was made in Germany. Juan
Burner is the commonly used name on these. And that you have a German burner is not strange. The carbide lamp burners could often be bought from other places than where the actual lamp maker were situated, and Germany were large in acetylene burners. Many of my carbide lamps has German burners. The holder for the globe was often in the form of a loose sleeve that was placed around the stem under the burner. Just like on one of mine that you suggested above. That one is called "Sol" (as in Sun): Regarding shade types; another version of shades that was commonly used is the tulip shape. Like on this one (called "Rubin"):
I never ever thought that a carbide lamp could be attractive but must say I’ve changed my mind now but doubt I’ll ever find one like @Carlsson shows above.
Jean, they are not so rare. The problem is rather that they often are badly rusted. You can see a part of my collection here at the galley section of my carbide lamp page: Gallery of carbide lamps Many of those have actually been posted in here over the years, so I bet you have seen them. My favourite is this Pyro. It's not the prettiest, but it run very well. And it has another system than the more normal with dripping water. It's what's called a suction- and pressure lamp here, and it works absolutely perfect. @Jean J
@Jean J Here is one made of cast iron by the Swedish company "Husqvarna Vapenfabrik Aktiebolag" . Looks like a contemporary ordinary oil/kerosene lamp from 1917/20, as was this lamp production period. Advertised in catalogue only 1918/19! /Conny
Ha! I never thought about that, but you are correct Jean. It has some similarities Conny, practically all carbide lamps was made in the few last years of WW1, so the Husqvarna is in the standard period. I don't really like the Husqvarna (Designed Typ 184 by the Swedish authority of explosives). It's shaplessly ugly, bulky and heavy since its out of thick cast iron. I have one, of course, and it's a NOS-piece. Actually most of the Husqvarna's seems to never have been used. Perhaps they came out on the market a bit too late of the crisis. It was almost just one measly year in the end of WW1 the carbide lamp boom was here, and the kerosene actually never was rationed as long as predicted that time.
It looks like it is broken. On a first glance, it looked normal, but at closer look, it appears that it has been a "winged" burner where the wings has been broken off. Bray burners are easy to find on e.g. eBay. A burner rated between 14 and 21 litres/h would probably have been correct for this lamp.
When it comes to carbide table lamps, anything is OK, so no problems there! They very often look a bit strange, with parts that don't really line up in a good way, so to speak. In a few cases the parts are proportional and match well, but in reality not so often. Your new setup do actually look like some I've seen here "from factory". But out of a pure aesthetically appearence, I'd say that this tulip globe is a tad bit too small. A slightly larger one would have looked better. However! From an actual working aspect, I'd say it will do the job perfectly. And that's the main purpose of a globe for a carbide lamp; it's not meant to look pretty. It's meant to do the job, and I am absolutely certain that this globe will spread the light in a good way.
Ok, thank you. Good advice. It will be fine for now but I'll continue looking for something better Best regards.
I found a 14 litres burner. It just adjust with a conic screw? That's all? Clockwise or counterclockwise? Thank you.
Do you mean the drip control? The burner itself isn't adjustable. Normally the water drip is adjusted by increasing counterclockwise and decreasing clockwise. About 90 drops per minute is what a 14L burner wants for full effect in theory, but that always differ in reality, so you will have to try out your lamp.
Ah! You just remove it by screwing counterclockwise. In the old days they had dedicated gas burner pliers, but any suitable plier will do since the old burner will be discarded anyway. Sometimes a previous owner might have sealed it with something that make it stick, e.g. shellac, but it should be fairly easy to unscrew anyway. Don't use anything that make the new burner stick hard when you mount the new one. That may compromise the safety since the burner is meant to pop out of its thread for just a tiny increase in pressure in the gas chamber. The old recomendations was to just simply use soap to seal the coarse threads of the burner.
