I've had this for a couple of years so decided it was time to give it a little clean. It wasn't bad anyway and if I'm honest I don't think it's been used much. Looking at the colour of the brass under the tank and on the base of the frame it's got that never polished look. Also my existing E41, also from 1942. I also found that the vapouriser has the original red washer, so that has stayed where it was.
@Matthew92 Very nice! With the original globe I’m guessing too. Thanks for all the detail, my education continues...
Some of mine had the red washer under the NRV. Unfortunately, they were leaking so I had to replace them. I think I once knew the name of the plastic they were made from - Ian Ashton told me and I wonder if it's in his book. The rare red plastic knobs with the white dot were made from a plastic called Catalin... Of all the lamps I've moved on, I think it's the four first version E41s I still miss most - more than the VL1s and Jacobeans, even the Vapalux hand lamps...
@BigStevie I would think it’s the original glass, in the one picture I tried to show the bubbles and dirt that is in the glass. It’s quite rough around the edges, no fire polishing, I don’t know if that means it’s an older one or just that it was a cheaper manufacturer. @David Shouksmith I was surprised to find that red washer under there, the others I came across where normal black rubber or whatever they are. I haven’t removed the NRV, whether or not they leak, I’m not going to bother lighting it, so I’ll never know.
@Matthew92 very nice lamps. The Vapalux stamped filler cap is interesting I picked up a 300 also with the same filler cap something I had not seen before. This also had red washers and no split pin on the pressure release screw.
@Gary Waller That’s interesting regarding the lack of split pin, I think mine has one like the usual. I’ll check later. I’ve got a 300 in that sort of condition, I’m not sure what’s going to happen to it. Like yours mine still has some of the transfer intact which would be nice to keep. If I could kill the rust and lock in the finish, perhaps just a good coat of lacquer.
@Matthew92 its always a dilemma, to restore or leave as is. I have just waxed the tank on this one to try and preserve it.
@Matthew92 sadly when I found mine it didn’t have a top on. I have since but a 1943 marked top on that came from another lamp.
I’ve done that several times, including on this E41. Just a good wax and buff can really do wonders. I’ll try and get a picture of the 300 tomorrow, but you’ll see that it might be a little beyond a wax and buff.
No, the VL1s, Jacobeans and Vapalux handlamps, Tilley CL72 etc., etc. went in 2018 and then the E41s and some other high-end stuff just last year. I've still got some very tasty items lurking about...
I checked, I think the air release screw has been changed and that why mine has a split pin. Not obvious in the pictures, but the colour of brass is different between the two parts. I’ll have to dig around in my spares to see if I can find one. Damn I guess I’ll have to wait until Newark next year to find out what those are.
@David Shouksmith ...some info on Catalin, an early type of plastic from the 1920s, used to make the control knobs? Catalin - Wikipedia
Both my 1942 HD44's pictured left still have the original red seals, temptation was to replace them during their services but decided to leave well alone and was happy that no leakage reared their heads and both lamps run smoothly with no issues. Unfortunately only 1 has the original globe with the hole but it doesn't distract too much as they're both still cracking hand lamps.
