These are two lamps that I bought a long time ago from car boot sales . Although they are not truly the kind of lamp discussed here , they are gas/mantle types . The fonts are in two peices and comes apart to reveal a camping gas cartridge . It also uses a camping mantle . I find these lamps rather charming and at £1 each , I thought quite a bargain . They came without glassware of course !! They are marked Veritas but I have no idea of age or origin . Does anyone know anything at all about these lamps ? I presume they could have been made at the time of power cuts etc . Maybe the 50s but other than that I know nothing about them . They both work superbly and give a good light . They are very easy to use of course and quite economical on gas . There are slight differences between the two lamps pictured apart from the shades so I guess one is a later model . I can't seem to find anything about these lamps so I would appreciate any information that anyone has . Regards to all , Thomas
I sent one of these to Wim a couple of years ago. It came as part of a batch of lanterns and I was quite pleased to get rid of it to be honest. I thought the knob was very much out-of-keeping with the appearance of the rest...
Yep, I am always remembered when I take it out on the px meetings. Most people even don't see that it is a gas cartouche lamp.....
1950s or 1960s at a guess. I took one to give to Fil Graff in PA a few years back as it did nothing for my street cred to have a profanity in the collection. Worked well though when I did try it. ::Neil::
Well you know , we all have our opinions about things we like or collect . As they say "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" Although these lamps are not pressure lamps in the pure sense , they do have a charm and to my knowledge nothing like them is produced today . I believe that a collection need not only contain one particular and specific type of item . It is interesting to keep an open mind . These lamps were bought by me for a very low price in a very sad and dirty state . I derived much pleasure from bringing them up to the standard you see in the photos . The glassware was also purchased at fairs for next to nothing . The result I feel is a pair of pleasing and useful lamps that many admire . My main collection does consist of the usual pressure lamps and heaters , but I do derive satisfaction often from devoting some time and attention to what some may consider as "lesser" items . Best regards and thanks to all who replied .
Noel, I fully agree with you, I have two Veritas Superb, one like new working from the beginning like a charm and a used one where I had to replace the jet and the cleaning wire and some seals to make it work again. A lot of people dislike them because they don't get them back to life but if you managed to repair a lamp it is a very satisfying feeling and you get a close relationship to the lamp you fettled. I am sure everybody in this forum knows this and we shouldn't discuss matters of taste. Finally I am sure Neill didn't want to bother you and I respect the work and efforts you put into these lamps to restore them. Happy lighting!
Oh, absolutely, Noel - no need to feel you have to defend yourself. You might get a bit of 'joshing' here from time-to-time, but nothing malicious and just pulling your leg, really, no more than that. Just thank God they didn't have a wick! If you like those lamps, that's fine, and collect them to your heart's content. And talking of "lesser items", you've no idea what gassie stuff I've collected over the years - lamps and stoves. Whenever I post any of it here or at CCS, it usually draws a healthy amount of ridicule - great stuff...
Yes , no problem . No offence taken ! Nice to know there are so many lamp enthusiasts out there . We all enjoy different aspects of the hobby of course . Some (like me) tend to polish up to almost new condition . Others prefer to leave totally original . My wife's face is a picture when she comes home to find yet another strange looking lamp on the dinner table !! She does appreciate the warmth this weather though . I just have to train her to clean them up for me though . She is terrified of pressure lamps and is convinved that one day , one will explode ... hmmmmm Hope she's wrong !! She gets a bit irritated when I turn the TV down so I can hear the "hiss" a bit better . Ah well , it's all good fun and keeps us off the streets I guess ! Regards to all .
Reading this thread gave me pause to what might be motivating all of us. I love the lamps (and antique radios) because I CAN repair them, down to the pump, the jet, the tube, or the capacitor. There is almost a spiritual pleasure in being able to repair something in an otherwise disposable society. My car has 236,000 miles (not kilometers) on it and I will surely drive it for many more years. Keep fettling!
Well as I have said many times lamp companies were in the business of selling lamps and it was not good marketing policy to start blowing up your customers because word tends to get around about small excitements like that. So mostly they were made to be customer proof against such interesting occurances. So if they are in reasonably good condition and operated with care and common sense they are safe. In 45 years of playing with this stuff I only ever heard of three exploding lamps. One was a Tilley that after the base plate blew out attempted a low earth orbit. That was operator error of course because if a Tilley base plate starts to blow down then it should be scrapped. The other two were Petromax lanterns bought in the US from Britelyte and operated with gasoline. Petromax lanterns just ain't safe with gasoline so operator error again although in this case in accordance with misguided instructions from the seller. Use them as instructed and they don't go bang. ::Neil::
Well the only lamp I really have restored like in putting money in is the petromax besides her. Normally I cleam them, repair and paint if nescesarry and light them. Once you start polishing, you keep polishing...
