Patented around 1912, the Justrite No. 10 Acetylene (Calcium Carbide) Lantern. (Minus the flame reflector and cage held bullseye lense that has been removed before I acquired it.) The lamp is about 9 inches tall to top of gallery. The attached wire bail handle makes it taller but folds for storage. It will run for 3.5 to 4 hours on a half charge of carbide pellets. The carbide goes into the inner loose cup, slides inside the outer inverted cup attached to the tube of the dual opposing flame burner tips. The outside silver bottom is filled with water. It self-regulates its generated gas and will not over pressurize itself during operation and automatically stops gas generation after the gas valve is turned off. Thus, no drip regulator valve, only a gas flow valve. It does this by having 2 external over-pressure tubes build from the top side of the water reservoir built out into the wire cage around the glass globe.(see close up photo of one of the tubes at bail handle attachment). When the valve is restricted, the gas pressure builds in the inner carbide container pushing the water and extra gas back out the bottom of inner carbide cup to rise up through the water and be vented out the hollow over gas tubes outside as part of an integral element of the cage around the glass globe. Within a few moments, the gas generation is reduced or ceased if the gas valve is all the way turned off. Gas production restarts again when the valve is opened and the pressure inside the inner cup drops to allow water to reenter it again from the outer water reservoir and within a few seconds can be lit again. It has a case to store it in, a black metal tubular tin with lid and another, water-tight, smaller round tin that fits inside it to dry store carbide pellets.
I like that system a lot. I have a few lamps that use it, and I find it more user friendly than the drip system. And the flame is much steadier and controlled. In Sweden it was called "Sug- och trycksystemet" - "The suction- and pressure system" as a poorly, but directly translation would say. It's the second system of three major ones, and not un-usual in any way. Here's a Pyro I posted some years ago: Pyro carbide lamp 1917 ("non-dripper") Hillcrosslanes, It's interesting that yours got a valve to shut it out. That was pretty unusual due to the safety regulations. I only have a few lamps that use such a device, and they always needed "something extra" in order to be allowed. Here's a crossection I made for my web page. It show the same Pyro as I got, and it gives a hint of how this self regulating system works by the water seeping in to the inner chamber, and then controlled by the pressure formed inside. It's very important to check that the little vent holes neither is to large (enlarged over 0.8 mm by pricking) nor to small (clogged).
Thanks for the heads up @Wim Yes indeed, good to see. This ‘Incanto’ made in the UK has a float containing the calcium carbide, so a broadly similar system to the Justrite - but not so elegantly constructed! Meant for use on the farm I think, which is where I discovered it.
Yes, the diagram of yours is exactly how the justrite No. 10 works. Below is a diagram of the next model up from my No. 10... the diagram is of a No. 12, with a flint striker added to it. The No. 12 is operationally pretty much the same as my No. 10 otherwise.
I Am sure that lamp of your has seen many early mornings next to a farmer's milk stool. It looks like a very hardy, utilitarian farm lamp indeed.
Excellent! You have slightly enlonged water feed slots, where mine are tiny round holes (#7 in my drawing). The excess gas escape hole are at a similar place (#2 for the Pyro), but that's just the logical place, of course. I really like your Justrite. It's interesting with the control valve.
@Carlsson , the Justrite was designed by Augie Hansen, lead designer of the Justrite company. He has many carbide lamp patents for the company that catered to the mining industry in the U.S., possibly why the lamp is so small and comes with a sturdy metal case and extra carbide storage container. (Wouldn't want to get stuck in a mine with no extra carbide!) He later left Justrite to form his own company. I think it was plainly called the Hansen light Co. if I remember correctly.
@presscall , sorry, was unsure how to add the @ notification in the forum at first. The comment was directed to your lamp.
@hillcrosslanes Got your comment, thanks. Well imagined, lighting up the morning milking session, very likely. Has itself got the look of a galvanised milk pail, not far short of the same size either. Speaking of size, you say your lantern’s small - unobservant of me, I see now the lighter alongside. Gosh, that’s really small!
@hillcrosslanes Advertisement, ‘Field and Stream’ May 1919. Bullseye lens you spoke of in place. Sorry, couldn’t get better definition. ... and another.
