Moin from the mainland. My name is Torsten and I have been one of the owners of two Vapalux lights for several weeks now. I have only technically revised both and cleaned the optics carefully to preserve the story. the younger lamp is a Vapalux 320, the older model a 300 of 1943. Although both lamps are working really well, there are still some striking differences. the 320 rushes much louder and must be readjusted more often, where against the older 300 runs quietly and almost does not need to be regulated. Is the Typ oft Lampkonstruction, or is that from different sized wear? mfg Torsten. PS, thank Google for Translation......
@Dieselross Welcome from Queensland Australia. You have 2 nice lanterns. They are very well made. The noise and the adjustment of the pricker of the 320 could be that the jet nozzle of the generator could be worn. I’m suspecting that when you adjust the pricker you are probably reducing the ware of the nozzle by the pricker just entering the nozzle. Others here on this forum will know more about these lanterns and can help. Cheers Pete
The outer appearance of Vapalux lamps changed several times from 1941 to around 2000 but the conrol and burner system never did. So a 1941 generator and burner is the same as one made in the last year of production. These lamps do not have a regulator and there are no adjustments possible. They don't have a control valve either. The operator knob is a pricker control only so is neither regulator nor shut off. If you have to regulate the lamp using the control then the generator is shot and needs replacing. ::Neil::
Hello, Thank you for your welcome. Of course I have some questions about my lamps. How many were built from it and what are so worth lamps? Here in Germany, the lamps are rather rare, Petromax is represented here much stronger.
Hallo Torsten, both of your lamps have been made in great numbers. The 300 was made for the british forces during WW2 in their thousands. The Vapalux 320 is essentially the model produced since 1966 well into this century, the longest production run. The 300 is rather scarce now - especially your steel founted lamp - simply because most were scrapped through time. If you keep it in this present, authentic condition you will attract buyers for it. As with most things collectable, there is no firm market and thus pricing available. For a (highest) price, Ebay.co.uk is a market reflecting what people (worldwide) are willing to pay for it if you can find a seller offering such a lamp worldwide. To check your more local market, place an ad in zB. Kleinanzeigen and see what response you get. Regards, Mike
Moin and thanks for the info. When it comes to value, the point is to know if I owe more than a favor to the one I bought the lamps from. (The lamps were charged by weight, so to speak .....)
Well, I understand then you got them (very) cheap. I suggest your response to the former owner should be in line with the enthousiasm you feel towards these Vapaluxes? In these cases I would return a favor rather than passing money, especially with friends. Mike.
