I get very confused with the Bi Aladdin/vapourlux Lamp, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. These are two of mine, that I thought I’d dust off again. I’ve had them about 3 years, got them from the same place and just as they are. My question is are they right and what period. The vapourlux M1 on the right looks ok to me. The Bi Aladdin on the left I feel is probably a Bitsa. I guess the filler cap has been changed At some time, and I don’t think the hood is right. Your thoughts would be appreciated please. Cheers Malcolm
I gave up worrying overmuch about this sort of thing years ago - assuming I ever started! Any Bialaddin or Vapalux that's been in military hands will usually be a 'bitsa' therefore not 'right' but with a certain degree of 'rightness' to them (IMHO). The Bialaddin on the left has a tank and hood about 50 years apart in age. I don't think the two parts of the filler cap even belong to each other, never mind the rest of the lantern! You've a much better chance with lanterns that have been in civilian hands only but even then, parts can, and do, get swapped about. With experience, you get a 'feel' for lanterns that are unaltered but it's not an absolute guarantee, obviously. You can check what you have with the exemplar lanterns in Ian Ashton's 'Blurb' book, available free on-line for reference purposes. You can even buy a hard copy if you're feeling flush...
The one on the left a 300X, but with a later hood and what looks like a later cock. The alloy and brass filler caps I have seen before in these lamps, they are usually painted maroon same as the tank. I’m not sure why or when they used these, possibly cheaper than the 2 piece brass version???
Thanks all, great picture Jon now i know what to look for. But brings up more questions i'm afraid. David you say the tank and hood could be 50 years apart, so what date do you think the tank ( original lamp ) is ? Gary you say possibly the wrong cock, that looks to me, but the knob has been melted in the past.
The 300X had a cock like this one, the knob has an internal thread and it screws straight on. Yours looks like a later one that pushes onto the spindle, there is a flat to stop it spinning then a small screw in the end for securing it.
Yes I've looked at that & i should be able to sort something out, I'll order a copy for further use. iv'e also looked at the cock, and yes Gary your right, the knob on mine is held by a screw.
Thinking I was buying a lamp to use as spares for my lamp, we went away at the weekend to collect it. Did some sightseeing, had some great food and a very nice weekend. On closer inspection the lamp I have bought appears to be a Vapalux 300x It is stamped that on the hood, there are no markings on the collar, and there is a pressure pip on the fount. As can be seen it is maroon in colour. So am I right in thinking this will be from the mid to late 40s, or am I still mixing up my lamps. On the way home I picked up a very nice Bialaddin 310, which I have already tested to the blue flame stage, it works a treat. So icing on the cake!
Indeed, mid to late 40's (46 - 48?) as the tank has gone back to brass, which is a good thing. Single hole collar backs this up but still early enough to have the hexagonal air nuts (someone will have a tighter year range I'm sure) just before Bialaddin emerged? Martin
Cheers Martin, that’s great & what I thought, maybe I am getting my head around the ins and outs of vapalux/Bialaddin after all, I’ve just ordered the book so maybe when it comes I’ll understand even better, or maybe not. Malcolm
They're essentially the same principle as Tilley (though far better engineered) so if you can fettle one of those, you'll easily cope with Bialaddin and Vapalux. The NRVs are a bit different because the BiaVap pumps aren't removeable. They're similar to a brass three-legger camping stove but easily removed with a broad-bladed screwdriver. Parts are easy to obtain. If by "the book" you mean Ian Ashton's tome, I don't think there are any fettling instructions in there. Instructions etc. are in the library here...
Cheers David, thanks for the comments. The fettling is not the problem I have as I’ve done a few. It’s the dating & relationship between them all, so yes I did mean Ian’s book which I am hoping will clear up a few mysteries for me. Cheers Malcolm
Finally got the Vaporlux 300X fettled, still got to start the Bi-Aladdin, but have got all the replacement parts now, so shouldn’t be too long. Put in a money shot as well to keep Pete happy
Malcolm, The Bialadin on the left has an alloy fuel cap with the correct brass pressure relief. At least I have not ever seen an alloy screw in these alloy caps. Probabely a cost-cutting excercise that seem to have been abandoned with the green Bialaddin 300X's around 1949. These alloy caps usually appear with the maroon painted lamps, with my estimate of 1947-1949. The ventilator is of a slightly later period when this form was introduced with the military 305 alloy version, hence 305 II, perhaps 1953. David seems to refer to the second such ventilator introduced in the 80's which lost the edgy appearance in the top and became more rounded. The Vapalux you collected is 1946 and rather rare. hemmed in-between 1945 Vapalux 300's and late 1946 Bialaddin 300X. The latter is the almost identical lamp but with the new tradename (stamped initially only in the ventilator) by Aladdin Industries, when they took over the marketing from Willis & Bates in 1946. Aladdin Ind. started marketing the lamps still with the Vapalux moniker before they evidently wanted a product more of their own. Mike
