Top cap for Bialaddin 300 Series

Does anyone know where I can get the top cap (for the Bialaddin 300. It is the saucer shaped bit, held by two screws to the top of the burner gallery. Base-Camp do not have any, although Mike says that there may be production run sometime. I need a couple now. I do not have the right metal baching tools or formers to try making one. Steve

 

On the face of it, I'd have thought reproduction of these could be quite lucrative for someone. They don't look difficult to form and we all need several, probably. Add to that, the all-brass lanterns seem to command a huge premium on eBay.

So why has nobody done it, thus far? There must be a reason...

 

I agree, The degree of 'dishing' is so mild/shallow that a simple press tool would suffice !

Pass on that one

 

Well, perhaps I should have mentioned that there are at least four different types I'm aware of - one with a flat top and straight sides and the other three with a raised part in the centre and complex, curved sides.

If I know of four, no doubt there'll be about eight! Neil, Ian..?

 

Apologies, i must be looking at the wrong component then

 

I could do with two or three myself.

I have seen people use upturned brass ash trays picked up at car boots/swap meets.

 

Mmmm These are what i thought we were on about ! Only seems to be one type on the 300 series, as best i can see anyway

perhaps someone can enlighten me if im missing something here ?

 

I found this article and I wondered if it might be a practical method of pressing some repro caps out of brass?

 

Thanks James, you have got my interest!! I will give this line a bit of thought and it may be worth an experiment or two. Biggest problem will be to get the moulds made, but I know a man who may be up to that challenge. Next question will be, what sort of brass do I use. Brass comes in all sorts of grades and I assume that I will neede a brass that is not too hard, that can withstand the temperature and obviously anealling. All help will be appreciated. Steve.

 

Best brass for that is the base plates out of scrap Tilley and Bialaddin tanks. ::Neil::

 

Thanks Neil, I have loads of them! Steve.

 

Just shove the tank on top of a primus stove and then knock the bottom out with a shaped rod. I have done plenty and you get a nice 6" dia brass dish with all manner of uses. I use one with sand in on a primus to temper springs in a hot sand bed. The one from the mid 1950s R1 is also a nice shape which near enough matches the reflectors for AL15s Etc. You have to flatten out the rim to match those and re roll the edge but do that and add silver paint and you are near enough there. Being brass they will also plate if you want to go to that expense and make a proper reflector.

::Neil::