2 new acquisitions - Tilley 246b March 1978 and an Aladdin wickie.

Discussion in 'Pressure Lamp Discussion Forum' started by ColinG, Mar 2, 2021.

  1. ColinG

    ColinG United Kingdom Subscriber

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    I bought this from the original owner who bought it new for his first house in the Highlands that didn't have mains electricity. It came with the a box and some extras.

    This is my first 'Mark 2' 246b with the middle cage ring removed.

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    Next is the Aladdin wickie.

    IMG_20210302_155352_3.jpg

    IMG_20210302_155419_5.jpg
     
  2. BigStevie

    BigStevie United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Very nice Colin, I’ve got an identical B. Good to find the Aladdin with its shade.
     
  3. bp4willi

    bp4willi Germany Subscriber

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    Nice find.
     
  4. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Great pick-ups. I enjoy playing with the aladdin and the household like the light. The mantles are fearsomely expensive tho..
    Funny how the box picture still shows the middle ring.
     
  5. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

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    They are working well.:thumbup:
     
  6. ColinG

    ColinG United Kingdom Subscriber

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    I was chuffed with the Aladdin, it was incandescing nicely... for about 5 minutes and then black spots started to appear and get bigger. I turned it off in the end as I simply don't know how to control an Aladdin. It seems more like voodoo that science to me!

    The 246b works well I put a small amount of fuel in it and left it to run and it didn't pulse or dim once until it ran out a couple of hours later!
     
  7. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    @ColinG

    1. Make sure the wick on your Aladdin is very well trimmed with no loose fibres poking up.

    2. Aladdins become more efficient as they heat up, so the trick is to get them burning with just a blue flame all around the wick, and as they heat up, check that they aren’t producing yellow flame, smoke or black spots, and if so, turn the wick down to get the even blue flame. It takes a few minutes to reach optimal operating temperature.

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  8. Norman

    Norman United States Subscriber

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    Colin you have a couple of very nice acquisitions.

    I have 3 Aladdin lamps and none of them work very well and no matter what I do I can never get them trimmed properly so they sit on a shelf.

    Cheers,
    Norman
     
  9. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    I too have had the rather disconcerting black spots/buildup of carbon on the mantle. I found that they will burn off slowly once you have the thing running correctly. As Tony says a well trimmed wick is paramount. You can buy wick trimmers for this - modern plastic ones or occasionally older metal ones appear (I have not tried one). The manual from aladdin USA: http://aladdinlamps.info/PriceLists/23A_Instruction_Manual.pdf
    What they don't tell you until the glossary is that you need to remove the flame spreader in order to use the trimmer. They do recommend trimming every time you re-fill the fuel.
    I have been using bartoline 'indoor' lamp oil as it has no odour.

    Chris
     
  10. rayw

    rayw United Kingdom Subscriber

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    That's a nice tidy tilley, should be good for a few years
     
  11. WimVe

    WimVe Subscriber

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    Looking at the sooted chimney I would say: to high of a flame it is.

    Remove the flamespreader, cut the wick, if nescesary, straight/flat with the airtube and char the top, then use the wickcleaner to shape the wick top.
    Any spike of flame will char the mantle.
     
  12. ColinG

    ColinG United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Hmmmm I will have another go at getting the Aladdin working properly.
     
  13. JonD

    JonD Subscriber

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    I don't use anything but a safe edge razor blade.

    Adjust the wick so the lowest point is level with the flat outer ring. Shave it like your face until it is flat and even all the way round.
    Turn it up a bit more and shave again if it's the first time in a long while. Make sure there are no straggler particles or strands coming out sideways.

    I have a wick trimmer but the above is so quick and easy it never comes out of the bits box. The lamps are in use on most winter nights for combined light+heat.

    When first lighting and before fitting the chimney it is obvious if the wick is even. Once the flame has travelled round the wick and formed a complete circle adjust the wick so you have blue flame with just a hint of yellow tips. It will bob up and down a bit with the passing air currents.

    If the yellow tips are biased in just a few spots rather than being even all the way around, repeat the wick trimming procedure. Otherwise it will make soot spots when going and producing any decent light.

    wick_trim_aladdin2.jpg
     
  14. podbros

    podbros United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Great tip! :thumbup:
     
  15. Fireexit1 United Kingdom

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    Yes - I will try that trick - thanks. The plastic wick trimmer I have is a new purchase and although it works I have some doubts about it's longevity. I did buy a bag of 100 razors before they banned online sales of them here. So much safer now :)
     
  16. JonD

    JonD Subscriber

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    My wick trimmer is an older one and it's made of brass. I'll find a picture at some point.
    It's fine except those safe Razor blades from the local hardware shop have been so useful for much else.

    They will shave an Aladdin wick - I have one reserved for that.
    They will pare off the burnt on stuff from your glass cooker hob top or the oven door - I have another one for that.
    They will scrape off the layer of "very well burnt on sheet" from your frying pan or wok - I have some specially bent ones for that.

    And you sharpen them again if they become blunt. Bargain of the century.
     
  17. podbros

    podbros United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Sheet eh?

    :-k ... That reminds me of a certain joke...
     
  18. Tony Press

    Tony Press Australia Subscriber

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    Brass Aladdin wick trimmer: excellent!

    BF81DCE6-31BA-49A8-B6B1-9F83E6D7BE06.jpeg

    Cheers

    Tony
     
  19. Mr cod

    Mr cod Subscriber

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    There are some very good u tube vids on the setting up and using of Aladdin mantle lamps, it's best not to run them on maximum and it is recommended not to leave them unattended.
    Regards ian
     
  20. ColinG

    ColinG United Kingdom Subscriber

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    I've been fiddling with the wick and the control but it's obviously an art/skill I don't have! I'll keep trying but it might spend it's life as a shelf queen. I don't have any new mantles and new ones cost crazy money!
     

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