Anyone out there actually using an old bowl fire? I saw one for sale on our local internet junk selling site. I've already bought all the lamps on sale..... Now Spring is in the air, I thought it would be nice to sit outside in the evening with a beer. It is still cool in Estonia when the sun goes down. Even in Summer! A knockabout heater would be very handy. The one for sale is maked April 1967 according to the dot code and looks in reasonable condition. Guard is still intact which is important. What I am getting at is, there must be a reason they stopped making them. Of course the fire risk and a bit of stink. But are they fiddly things to get going or prone to breakdowns? Do they give out much heat? Any info appreciated.
Bialaddin bowl fires are well made and reliable, but they are intended for indoor use, the link below shows relevant information. Bialaddin
Mine's a Tilley R1, but the principle is the same - heat directed via the reflector. The convected heat from the fire will be blown away by draughts, but the direct radiated heat will still warm, inside or out. Just have to sit in the line of fire so to speak!
I use mine outside when I am camping most weekends in the summer, as long as you can see the glow "hey presto" problem is, bowl fire envy, when the ladies of the group in particular find out you can really keep warm outside with one of these old fashioned contraptions they tend to hog the "red light" so to speak, I sometimes take 2 one for and one to share round.
I use them regularly. To keep them running sweet they need to be serviced about every 100 hours: 1. Remove the vapouriser and cleaning wire being careful not to lose the tiny spring. Clean any carbon off the wire with fine emery paper taking care not to catch the cleaning needle in the end. Then, using a stiff wire, clean out the inside of the vapouriser tapping out any carbon. 2. Remove the locking ring from the base of the burner and the bottom plate. Remove the ceramic tube and the wire mantle. With a toothbrush, clean the ring of holes around the underside of the burner. Reassemble using copper grease on the threads. Apart from occasionally oiling the pump leather, that's about it. Terry
Bialaddin Bowl Fire - the best thing since sliced bread. In the night time at Newark every year, whether out in the open or in the 'Fettler's Arms', the heat is provided by Bialaddin Bowl Fires. They beat the Tilley equivalent 'hands down'.
Great thoughts. Thanks guys. Will squeeze the seller a bit and then hopefully enjoy some warm evenings. Pics of course to follow
@shagratork - Is that coming close to fighting talk Trevor? Don't get me wrong - I have neither - but I'm wondering if someone won't weigh in soon to defend Tilley! Very curious in what ways the Bialaddin wins hands down. More heat output? More reliable? I have become suspicious of the "burner sits on a vapouriser stick" design but that discussion does not belong here.
@JonD Many of the attenders of the Newark meet each year are very experienced campers. The Bialaddin Bowlfire rules supreme. Of course the equivalent Tilley heaters make an appearance now and again. But the Tilleys do not pump out as much heat (maybe just in my mind) and also they look rubbish! I hope that you can turn up at Newark this year and make your own judgement. Notice - so far no one has dived in to dispute my claim (no doubt they will now!)
@shagratork Looks like it's going to be me then. It may be just in my mind but they do put out just as much heat as a BiAladdin. I think it depends on where you're sitting in relation to the heater. If you're sitting directly in line with either heater, you'll feel the heat, if you're to one side, Tilley beats the BiAladdin hands down simply because the Tilley reflector is larger than that on a BiAladdin thus spreading the heat over a larger area. Think spot light versus flood light. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, besides, it's a heater and you light one to keep warm not drool over. Any drooling should be directed at the beauty sat by your side (or on your lap) ! Henry.
@shagratork @Henry Plews I would love to make Newark to see this settled in a good natured way. Interesting point about the focus effects.
@Henry Plews Hi Henry I was hoping someone would come out to defend the Tilley. As you will have noticed from my comments, my opinions are mainly subjective. I don't have a working Tilley heater at the moment but I have two or three that need fettling. No doubt when I get one working I will be singing the praises of the Tilley! Are the Newark dates OK for you this year Henry? Trevor
@shagratork Our little fire pit worked quite nicely last year though didn't it. Kept us warm right through until the sun started to come up on Sunday morning. When I finally got out of my chair and stumbled back to the caravan. Didn't start driving home until 4 in the afternoon though, can't possibly imagine why.
When you have decided your little dispute between those two mere brands, you might consider to expand your views a bit and discover real radiant heaters. E.g. both Primus and Optimus beat them in many aspects. There are also some really interesting American variants, but I don't have any experience of those. Yet! But some look very impressive. The only advantage with the Bialaddin bowlfire is that it's fairly compact.
Hi Trevor, I have both Tilley R1 and BiAladdin heaters and to be honest, with no scientific measure to prove it, in the house, I think they're near enough the same, I can't recall ever having used either of them outdoors so I can't comment on that situation. As for visual appeal, I suppose the BiAladdin might have the edge on a Tilley. Based on my own observations, I'm sure that the reflector size makes a difference to heat output / distribution, my Tilley R55 with 14.5inch reflector, warms the room more quickly than the R1 with a 12 inch reflector. @Carlsson A good point but I'm afraid I don't have either Primus or Optimus heaters, so I can't make any comparison. I do have an AGM Readyglow heater but I can't compare that either because unfortunately, the vapouriser is no good and the radiant is missing. I could make a radiant from stainless steel or brass mesh but I can't fix the vapouriser. Henry.
There are some really interesting things out there. A Readyglow is one of them! Pity about your vapouriser, Henry. I got inspired, so I think I need to expand my small collection of heaters with an American one. I only got European ones now; British and Swedish. eBay will need my attention a while now.
There are some very good heaters or heater/stoves form Primus, Optimus, Max Sievert, and Radius. Unfortunately, in the UK they do not turn up for sale very often and when they do they tend to be expensive. Somewhere in my garage I have an early nickel plated Svea stove/heater. However, in the UK the Bialaddin and Tilley heaters turn up on eBay quite often and are usually very reasonably priced.
If only I could get one of those to run at all, then I'd be able to offer an opinion. I even got a Veritas bowl fire to run - but never the Primus... My view is that the Bialaddin guard is one of the ugliest things imaginable... I've got two Primus Bowelfire radiant heaters - one's missing parts so won't run but the other is complete and so should be capable of chucking out a bit of heat when fettled. I'll bring them to Newark and someone with a bit of skill can maybe have a look and see if the complete one can be cajoled into life...
@shagratork Hi Trevor, I forgot to mention that the Newark dates are O.K. for me this year and we intend to be there. Exactly ! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Primus-1010-Heater-Tilley-Lamp-/112892490357?ul_noapp=true&nma=true&si=lkUoRH6KSE6X2ZMqO Henry.
Bialaddin Bowl Fire... my favorite if i'm sitting at the veranda, or in the garage during fettling lamps... If you are sitting in the heating direction it is warm enough. Regards Frank
Nah, sometimes I just like to flick out the fly - you never know what's swimming along.... Oo-er, missus - I think it's about time I got mine down from the top of the bookcase and dusted them off...
Henry, I just went through the AGM gallery and noticed that your heater isn't posted. Please consider to do so. There are too few posted now, so any addition would be nice. That it not is complete doesn't matter.
@Carlsson When I've finished fettling the two lanterns that I'm busy with, I'll clean the heater and post pictures in the gallery. Henry.
@shagratork I think i was watching this Bowl Fire... ... in good condition with a blue control knop. Congratulations! Regards, Frank
@primaxel Yes, that is the one. It is a 'Collection Only' and the place is not far from me. I am picking it up on Thursday. Regards, Trevor
Great for the fettle shop, Ok I know it's not pressure,but burns almost anything. Aussie made, maybe patent flogged from Europe. Keep warm by the light toad
