Morning friends, what a fantastic forum! This is my first post, and first lamp really, but I have been browsing the forum for a few weeks, and have been sent over from the classic stoves site. Great stuff... I just wondered if somebody could maybe tell me what model of Vapalux stove I have found please? I picked it up last week, and would just like to get it going, but I'm not sure of the model. After searching the forum I first thought it was a 300, then a 320, but it says M1!? I wonder if it maybe has parts from different models...? is stamped 1944. Any help or advice really appreciated. Many thanks,
It's a military 'bitsa' i.e. bitsa this and bitsa that. The army tended to service/refurbish these in large batches. Now since most Vapalux and Bialaddin parts are interchangeable they just re-assembled them with whatever bit came to hand. Their sole aim was to produce a batch of lanterns that worked reliably with no regard to what they looked like. It'll probably work just fine as it is...
Vapalux Halifax RAF blue top 43 - 45?, Vapalux M1 font and frame from the 70's and maybe a bialaddin 310 pump, because of the colour. All very functional and interchangeable a definite bitza. If I were to read between the lines (of its history) it could have been that the original 'steel' font was in too poor a state to be usable (they did rust) Martin
As others have said, it's an M1 lower half with a brass/enamel hood froman older model, most likely a Vapalux model 300 because of the long vent slots. So... now you need the correct enamel hood to complete the M1 and the parts for the lower half of a Vapalux 300. Then you'll have two excellent lamps and the beginning of a pressure lamp collection! If you look on eBay and local for-sale sites you'll soon locate the bits you need. I have a hood that would be a better match but the enamel has lost its shine somewhere along the line.
Hi Shaun and welcome to the forum. You’ve got all the info from the above postings and as Colin suggested, two good lamps. Good luck with your fettle! Stevie
Hi everybody... wow, thank you ever so much for the kind replies and messages. Fantastic stuff. Looks like I need to get on the hunt for a couple of parts... I did hear that these lovely lamps are prone to multiplying quickly! The parts seem very well made, They have a lot of charm dont they...cant wait to get them going. Thank you again for getting me on my way!
Shaun, welcome. Looking forwards to seeing your progress. If you have any questions, please ask. There is a huge amount of lantern experience here, all are happy to help.
@Shaun Etherington Hi and welcome to the forum. I’m sure you will have lots of fun getting it working, then once you locate the correct parts you will have a working lantern ready for them. Regards Jeremy
Thanks again everybody, what a friendly welcome, thank you. I'll definitely post updates of my progress. Got a lot to learn, but hopefully should be good fun. I've just been browsing the gallery on here, I think thats going to be very useful. Thanks again fellas
