Hi, I have just bought a Butterfly Lamp, it looks very nice but it has more leaks than a Welsh Farmer. To look at it it looks the same as my Anchor 950, 500 cp. but the Vaporiser comes out of the top middle of the tank and is cranked across to the side with a Brass crank. The Anchor Vaporiser is fixed in the tank to one side, and has a NRV. at the bottom of the rod. The Butterfly has no bottom half to the rod and so no NRV. So how can I stop the Fuel coming up the Vaporiser when I pump it ? Also I have been looking for a book called, Rob Earl's Manual on Servicing and Repairing Paraffin pressure Lamps. But no luck so far, has any one on here got a copy to sell ? Thank you.
If there's no NRV, you can't, unless you hold a finger firmly over the jet. This site will tell you all you need to know, slightly different lantern but there is commonality of parts and the principle is the same. Restoration of a PETROMAX 829 Lantern If you insist on a paper copy, you may wish to contact Mike at base-camp to see when the book you seek will be back in stock. Books Page
That Butterfly is of the older design, without the rapid preheater. Just like the older Petromax and some other clones. Functionally, there isn't a need for a foot valve because you should only start pumping just before light up (or only towards the end of the preheating session with the spirit flame). You won't be able to prevent fuel going up the vaporizer while pressurizing. Plug or block the vaporizer tube/port if you need to pressurize the fount for some other reasons besides lighting. Only for kerosene or kerosene-like fuels. Not for gasoline or light naphtha.
Hi Henry, any thanks for your reply, the Petromax is almost the same as my Anchor with the NRV on the end of the Vaporiser. But the Butterfly is different, so I think the lighting procedure must be the same as the Vapalux 300. i.e.. get it hot via the lighting torch then pump it up.
Definitely need some photos so we can see what the problem is and check out your latest acquisition. Butterfly lanterns seem to be popping out of the woodwork recently which is great but one still hasn't come my way yet but I live in hope!
Its not really a thing of old versus new but does the lantern have a rapid pre heater. With rapid you have to have pressure with pre heating. With the alcohol pre heater disc, you don't. So in your case you pre heat and then apply pressure. This soft start is way more comfortable then using the rapid.
Here is the Butterfly (no Rapid preheater), as you can see the vaporiser comes out of the top middle of the fount and "Cranked" over to the side. Where as the Vaporiser on my Anchor (with rapid preheater) is located to one side of the fount.
Looks to be in fine condition. Most of your leaks I suspect will be solved with spanners and a couple of seals, but like the good people before me and yourself have noted, light it like a Tilley. Is it a 350 cp version ? If so take a look at Mr cod's example: Butterfly 828 350cp unused I found that a new chinese NRV is the same price as a pip @ base-camp - and it came with a new lead washer.
? (Petromax) 17 Check valve cone with packing £ 1.00 (Anchor / Magnalux) HL10 Pump valve £ 4.50 Also, you can get the seals you need from Fettlebox
I dont know if this is 350 cp. or 500 cp. there is nothing on the lamp to indicate which it is, how do I find out ?
@Pitsmoor Col I have a butterfly I'll dig out later and post some pics. It's a 350 cp so you might be able to compare? I'll post em up later.
This is my Butterfly 350cp if You want to compare. This has no rapid preheater, just meths tray. I just had to light it while it was out of the box! Excuse the Petromax Glass.
It certainly looks the same, doe's your vaporiser go through the top of the fount at one side, or doe's is it attached to a brass "Crank" coming through the top middle of the fount ? same as in my photo. The only numbers I can see are on the jet, large 0. and small 5.
Its most likely 350cp then, what determines the CP. of a lamp ? is it the Jet, if so can you not put a 500cp jet in and would you have to do any thing else like change the cleaning needle. Or is it just the vaporiser that's different.
It's the Jet and Vaporiser thats different. The 350cp is very bright indeed. The 500cp Hipolto (same family) that I have literally melts Your eyeballs, and Yet that Butterfly is almost comparable to the Petromax. You will find that 350cp is plenty when running well.
The Butterfly is all sorted now, as Johnny19 says it "literally melts Your eyeballs," A couple of photos including the money shot.
Very nice indeed! And with the proper Butterfly Glass. I have a Petromax Glass in mine. All I could get.
Keep a look out on certain sites, you may come across one. At the moment I am working on another Vapalux 300, and I am on the lookout for an original glass, one with the lighting hole in.
@Pitsmoor Col Coincidence! I'm working on another 300 myself. It arrived with a lovely Chrome tank, but the rest was in a bad state. I have an original Glass for it (without hole), and the frame needs a bit of rust taking off. I'm salvaging the vaporiser from an old M1 I'm breaking up, plus using a green hood that's not in bad condition. Good luck in Your search!
