Hi all Here is my last lamp restoration for 2019. This is "The Bystrom Arc Lamp Design Nr.5" from the Bystrom Gas Lamp Co. in Chicago. This company starts in 1900 and from 1901 to 1903 the company was granted two burner/lamp patents that are valid for this lamp. So the lamp was probably launched the very first years of the 20th century. The early Arc type lamps as Irby Gilliand, Nulite, White, Turner etc. were all designed with an overhead generator burner. The Bystrom Arc lamp uses a more rare under generator type of burner. This under generator type of burner can also be seen on Superior Mfg. (Ann Arbor) Arc Nr.1 and Nr.2 lamps, and is a development from the burner style used in many gravity upright mantle lamps around late 1890,s to early 1900,s. This lamp and burner has a couple of special features. First ... the burner head works like most upright mantle burners, but this burner works in two ways. It gives a normal upright Bunsen flame to illuminate the mantle, but has also holes underneath the burner nozzle giving a pattern of small blue flames downwards heating up the burner casting body. A very smart way of keeping up heat to the burner and the vaporizing process. Second.... this lamp has a cleaning needle with a rod going through the entire tank body up to the burner and is accessible from under the tank. This made it possible to use the cleaning needle knob when the lamp was hanging, without lowering it down, for cleaning the jet. These features make it quite different from most other Arc lamps. Many hours to get this in working shape and finding missing parts, but now it hangs in my shed and after nearly 120 years gives out a fair amount of light. Gasoline fed lamp and the ad suggest 750 CP, but that needs probably optimal settings and a proper mantle. Stylish lamp and I have a handful of these Arc lamps now in my collection. /Conny Magazine ads 1902/1903 (first one courtesy Matt Purtell) John Bystrom patents....
Conny, very impressive, in deed! I don't collect lamps but this has the most beautiful lines. A lovely example!
Conny, As usual, a well documented post of a beautiful lamp. Congratulations on a very impressive fettle of a very rare lamp.
Conny What a wonderful way to end the 2019 year. It’s a very elegant lamp and once again you’ve shown your expertise in its restoration. I do like your research and documentation that to me, adds further interest to your restoration. Well done. Cheers Pete
I was tempted to say you had kept the best until last Conny but really every lamp you show us is beautiful.
