500 spiders made homeless by latest acquisition

A neighbor stopped me and said you are interested in lamps, I've been cleaning out my shed and there was an old one in there you can have it.
Didn't know what to expect but it turns out to be a nice ex army Willis and Bates from around 1979.
I've not seen so many spiders for quite some time.

 

Great stuff - just needs a good clean-up and a straight-sided globe probably.

 

Yes it seems pretty decent, hood shows little damage, and by coincidence I have a straight sided glass which was shipped to me by mistake, and I decided to keep it for a spare rather than mess about shipping it back.

 

A fine fettling project!

 

The Karma Rating just went up, with a very nice, dare I say special lamp to appear.
'Special' because it is one of the last M-1 models - whether this shows on the alloy collar or not - of which the production would end soon (late '70's).
I am not alone to consider this model - together with its near identical Bialaddin 305 sister - the nicest looking from the alloy framed series, mainly for it's simple lines.
It also could be the last model Vapalux to be introduced to the market in the late 60's, if (and this is a big IF) the Vapalux 320 was already introduced by then.

Either way, you have a quality product that should give little trouble if anything to bring back in working order. But give those spiders a good home, wilya? Mike

 

Can't go wrong with one of these lanterns! Just a good clean and a new glass and Bob's your Uncle!

 

What a nice pressie! It was meant to be yours?

 

It's a strange thing, I ordered a petromax globe and they sent me a bioladdin one, when I pointed it out they asked me to package it and send it back but I thought what the hell, I'll keep it.
Starting to worry now I only joined recently to get some advice on a lamp I picked up on eBay, I had a few lamps I had picked up stored in a box in the loft, but I'm not really a collector am I.
Since then I think I have added 14 more lamps, help!!


Regarding the spiders I'm expecting an angry call from Richard Attenborough at any time.

 

@rayw

Ah, how the bug bites deep, I don’t believe there’s yet a cure, you just have to give in. I tried repeating to myself ‘I mustn’t buy more lamps’, which only turned out to be a futile attempt to curb my interest.

My other half thinks that our post covid road trip around the UK is to catch up with family and friends. It’s true purpose is, of course, to pick up the dozen or so lamps that are awaiting collection.
I mustn’t buy more lamps, I mustn’t buy more lamps.... nah, keep ‘em coming!

 

@BigStevie, keep on dreaming mate, you know you truly have lamptitus.
Which as you know has no cure.
@rayw, don't worry about the spiders just give it a pre-burn and Bob's your uncle problem solved.
Nice lamp by the way enjoy your fun.

 

The lantern looks fine but what happened to the spiders? Are they still alive?

 

Light it up and that will get rid of the spiders .

Fine looking lantern.

 

A fine result. Looking at the colour of the air button and condition of the hood, I think that this one has not seen too much use. It's gonna be a keeper...

 

Had chance to take a look at the lamp today.
@M.Meijer tthe collar is alloy and the only information I can see is in the picture below.



Looking at the burner assembly make me think this one has hardly been fired up,


Early doors yet but I wonder what to do about the paint, its the military drab green and I intend to give it a good wash then consider if it would be the right thing to re paint it.i have a good feeling about this one.

 

Looking at the initial photos I'd say it'll clean up fine without the need for repainting but if you do go that route there are quite a few different drab olive greens out there. Take a little time to make sure you get the correct one. Nice acquisition too. mine came to me in a right state but I love it anyway!

 

Nice lantern there @rayw
She should clean up nicely.
I’m looking forward to the “money shot”.

As for “lampitis” ........ I believe we need to create a support group that will support our denial .......
Who am I trying to kid?
Enjoy your lantern and affliction.
Cheers
Pete

 

What a great gift, should clean up nicely. I guess spiders are less of an issue for us Brits than say for some of our Australian members! Dread to think what lurks in their barn finds.

 

Had a bit of time today so I started to clean it up, thinking about this one I may just tidy it up fit new seals and use it, I still have the option to strip it and paint it later if I want to make it more posh. It's an ex army lamp and I'm happy to rescue it.
Ordered seals for it so cant fire it yet but hopefully soon.

 

It is what it is - a good honest ex MOD lamp - and not all battered and full of sand... I love it.
C

 

That is a very clean looking lamp and in an attractive, original condition, well done!

There is a growing international market for these army lamps with prices going up. So even if you have a highly skilled professional painting this lamp for you. you spend (serious) money only to lose market value.

There are plenty of (cheap) lamps out there that warrant such paint-ups, but I strongly advise you: not on this one. There is only one 'original' condition for which people will pay, and you have it right there.

You might think never to sell it, but you could be surprised how ideas change, especially if you start a collection. Sooner or later you have surplus, or is the attachment to this or another lamp not that strong next to newer interests.
But of course, it is entirely up to you what you will do with it.

One more question: there is no army stock number or date on the alloy collar, just the name and adress?
No warning on using it indoors either? The sticker suggests it was just the (replacement) tank with accesories, so this lamp might have been assembled by the army, at any time in or after 1979, and probabely one of the last to emerge that way. Mike

 

We love the lamp, but, along with @MYN, please tell us what happened to the spiders? Were there actual spiders or just old webs containing dust and such?
If the "fire it up" suggestion was adopted, we had better not know.

 

Yes I set out with the intention Of painting and fettling it, but as I stripped It down my thoughts changed.
The burner was as new and when I took the vaporiser off it was rusty but not burned, the needle was shiny brass as if it was new, so I get the feeling it has hardly been fired, pump worked very well with a bit of oil rubbed into the washer, but it took a good push to free the NRV, I gave it a bit of a clean and although the paint is chipped I quite liked it, so I assembled it to see how it looked, and I was convinced, I intend to use it when I have re sealed it and look forward to seeing it work.
The Aluminium collar Just has the markings shown in the earlier picture and I can't see any army reference other than the label taped on the bottom, no idea about the other numbers On there.

The spiders were all dead or run off by the time it reached me, but there were some pretty big ones on there, quite formidable compared to what we usually see in the UK, my wife wasent very impressed.

 

An alloy collar with just the maker and address stamped in it, is new to me. That is the value of this site: sharing (new) facts. Again Willis & Bates presents us with a part that just is not mainstream. With the army, but certainly also a civil market in mind (hence many M-1's with a silver painted tank, plus the cylindrical glass with nice logo which was likely not meant for the army) this collar is 'universal' but I find it odd W&B left the warning off. But noted, so thank you for making this clear.

 

When I strip it again to put in new seals I will get some Detailed pictures of the alloy collar Ad go over the whole lamp to double check for any marks.

 

It looks much better now!

 

Nice to have good neighbours.. good job

 

I'm not into these lamp, but I must say it's in excellent condition and that hood is in amazing shape.
For someone like me that re-sprays 95 percent of my lamps I say leave this one as its looks so splendid as is, of course this is just my 2 bobs worth.

 

I think that if you resprayed that one, Ray, you'd lose more than you gained - and not just financially...

 

Good original condition, looks absolutely perfect to me.
Ian

 

It certainly looks great. Good as it should be. I'd agree that any new paint on this would make it less desirable.

So what happened to the bigger ones then?