I hope I've uploaded the picture correctly and that this is the right forum for this post! My apologies if I'm wrong. Below is the Vapalux M320 from 1950, or so I was told by the seller. The only markings are on the instruction card that was attached to the lamp and, apart from the small bits of paint loss shown and the slight scorch mark on the meths wick, it looks unused. Should I be looking somewhere specific for I'll look through the gallery to see if it fits the examples there. Cheers, Sooty
I believe these came out quite a bit later than the 50's and the Military used them through to the early 2000's, yours will probably have a Military broad arrow stamped in the base, if not then it is probably the civilian version that someone has painted olive drab, a good reliable lantern these.
A Bialaddin 320 would be 1967/8 but that is a Vapalux so will be 1970s or later maybe even up to the 1990s. It will be a very good working lantern and they only do the sooty thing if you are impatient. Lots of meth and no pressure. Wait until the meth is burning low and then close up the filler/pressure release and pump. ::Neil::
Thank you both. I do like the look of it and as it is much newer than 'suggested' by the seller, it is one to fire up. Thanks too for the concise instructions! Excellent. Sooty
If the seals haven't been changed then it might be a good idea to replace them, Ross from the Fettlebox on here supplies a very good service kit.
The preheater looks to have been test-fired. Whether that was when it was in this lamp cannot be seen from your photograph - is it fitted with a mantle, either new or burned in? You would normally see some signs of combustion on the burner arms or inside the hood. Whatever, these are cracking lanterns and it will gives years of reliable service...
They got these lamps right from the start, the style if the tanks, cages, glasses and hoods have changed over the years but the control cock, vapouriser and burner have not changed over the years which is testament to their sound design.
The very last of the UK made military M320's (late 1990's - early 2000's) have a short straight glass and metal support collar, yours I suspect is just before then early to mid 90's, does it also have the solid prop spirit cup? these are also from late vintage. Very usable and reliable lamp. Martin
This is the adjustable version and the solid prop just has an immovable leg. BRASS PRE HEATER CUP WITH WICK for VAPALUX 320 LAMP / LANTERN | eBay standard version
Yes of course, the Vapalux M320 typically came with a hinged spirit cup prop (first picture) however, in the last few years of their UK production they fitted (in my opinion) a cheaper less versatile version with a fixed prop (second picture). This also tends to 'date' the lamp although I can't be sure of the production run for this revision but from the ones I've seen, mid 90's to early 2000's
Thanks again - very helpful. Lovely clear picture. Busy restoring a heavy-duty fishing rod (a classic from the late 1960s) this week but will turn to my lamps next. Sooty
The advise to change seals etc. might be superfluous if it is not needed. Only by presurizing the tank any leak might appear when there is some fuel inside, or otherwise, by submerging it in water, including the connection of the vapourizer (that central tube) with the knob (or pricker control). Escaping air or fluid from the top of the vapourizer is what is expected. Good luck! Mike
I've just come across this thread while trying to find out when Vapalux stopped using the standard spirit cup. I've recently bought an unfired M320 and was trying to identify a possible time span for when it was made, and as mine has a standard spriit cup, I was wondering if there is a date range for the crossover from the standard cup to the later hinged and fixed spirit cups. Having looked in Ian Ashton's book and trawled through here I'm still no wiser, so any information would be most welcome. Many thanks in advance. Tim
Tim, which spirit cup do you consider 'standard'? Presumably you ask in relation to a Vapa 320, the hinged pre-heater cup was the very model the Bia in 1966 and later Vapa 320 models appeared with. As this thread indicates, the probably cheaper stiff version appeared in the 80-90's till the very end. The rounded, more spherical tops (or one-piece chimney) appeared in the eighties according I. Ashton, and this seems confirmed by the various 320 models. W&B are now recognized as masters in blending parts and accesories from different time 'bins', so conclusions as for probable production time should be made with this in mind. Mike
That is the model primer cup of the wartime Vapalux E-41 and 300. It was replaced with the brass and later plated dish in 1946. Has no bearing on the 320 model, but a good example of how you can have a perfect working lamp made with parts from different models of different eras. This is not likely an item put there by W&B, but then, their magic hat was deep.
Thanks Mike. For info, I've fitted the same one, with a little fettleing to keep it place, to my AL21 inspection lamp, works well and looks good too.
Well there you go! Someone else might chip in on the plated (?) primer cup that seems rather fresh in line with the lamp.
