This is a carbide lamp made by the Swedish company Pyro, mainly known for their paraffin stoves. As many companies, they tried to stay alive during the harsh years of WW1, and up here one method was to produce carbide lamps since all kind of fossile fuel became rationed the last few years of the war. This lamp has number 33 out of over 500 just for the last years of WW1, meaning that this particular type was the 33:d kind that was approved by the authoroties to use by the public. Lux has the first approval, meaning No.1... The thing with this Pyro is that is is made in the 'second version' out of three different systems to produce acetylene out of calcium carbide stones. It's not the regular drip lamp (first version). It's a "suction- and pressure lamp" as it is called in Sweden. The function is as follows: Firstly you fill the outer water container up to a notch with fresh water. Then you add calcium carbide into the smaller inner cylinder of the carbide compartment. Then you slide this inner compartment into the tight fitting outer cylinder The inner cylinder has two rows of small holes along its sides (These holes will later on allow some water to enter into the carbide compartment). After that, you lower the whole carbide battery with the burner into the water container and lock it into place with the bayonet joint and the water starts to slowly seep into the carbide container. As this happens, the carbide will react with the water and produce acetylene gas (and some other nasty stuff) which will increase the pressure inside the carbid container. This increased pressure will temporarily prevent the water from entering the compartment, and thus keeping the produced acetylene gas within certain specifications and as such regulating the lamp to keep a steady and calm flame. It actually works as a charm! Drip lamps aren't near this kind in steady and even light.
And here's how the burner looks from both angles with the aperture set down enough to allow a flame to be shown (it's of course much brighter in reality!):
Very stylish lamp. I see it has the two size threads for the different wick lamp galleries. Obviously relying on customers to provide their own shades and holders. I love the photos of the flame. I should start experimenting with taking 'different' pictures myself. Probably too lazy though.
Thanks Karli and Nils. Good observation regarding the threads! It is correct that it has the two standard sizes used for wick lamps. Many of the carbide lamp manufacturers used this system to keep the prices down. A mere lamp without any shade was of course much cheaper, and practically every household had atleast one wick lamp anyway. And since they couldn't get hold of paraffin these years, the galleries and shades from those could just as well be used on a carbide lamp instead.
Thanks! Yes, it's a nice one. Probably the carbide lamp I use the most since it just keep on going with a steady and perfect flame once lit. Drip controlled lamps must be attended to a bit more during the evening.
One learns something new every day on CPL! I have never before seen such a carbide lamp, for me, carbide lamps all were "drippers". Thanks all for such a detailed explanation! Somewhere in the deepest cellars of my brain there is a shallow voice that tries to tell me I have seen diagrams of acetylene generators for welding purposes in workshops using this principle. It is all very vague though.
There are some different systems, but for lamps there mainly were three kinds; the drip system, also called "water on carbide", the "suction- and pressure system" seen here on my Pyro, and finally the "carbide in water" which were more complicated, but with advantages like an fairly quick stop of the gas production as the lamp was expired. And also that the lamp could be started later again with acetylene still remaining in the chamber! It works like a floating gasometer: Not very aesthetic, but functional. The floating gasometer is filled with tiny carbide pebbles and it all floats in the water that is contained in what's pretty much just is an open bucket. At start when lowering the gasometer, the trapped air inside will keep it floating high, and the control arm that distributes the pellets isn't affected. Once the control valve is opened, the air is let out and the gasometer is lowered. Once the control arm hits the bottom of the "bucket", it drops a few pebbles down in the water and gas is formed which lifts the gasometer and the arm goes free again. Then it just keep on going with the aid of pressure to keep an even and steady gas production going, dropping a few pebbles down now and then. Mind you! The way the pebbles are distributed into the water is slightly more elaborate than in my illustration. That one is simplified to give the idea. And here's a lamp I have using this system. Not the prettiest, but very intriguing:
Like I said earlier, there's always something new to learn on CPL (and CCS too of course ) ! Thanks Christer @Carlsson !
