I came across CPL by accident at the start of lockdown one. As an introduction, I am a lamp user with a general interest in the history and the engineering behind different types of lamps and lighting. Hence, I have enjoyed reading and working my way through the site. Although I grew up with Tilley lamps and the background hiss of caravan gas lighting, when the time came to purchase my own, I chose Bialladin. Whenever I need that combination of light and heat or just that warm inviting glow and reassuring background hiss, even to supplement my existing lighting, one or more gets fired up. My go to lamp is the 305 (1954), purchased NOS from my local Army surplus store for not a lot back in the late 80's, plus a heap of NOS spares. It regularly gets used in the garden, goes camping and to summer rentals, reliable and warms the tent in the evenings but it’s beginning to show its age. During the rest of the year, it’s put to use in my garden summer house (or winter chalet depending on the time of year), where it provides the evening lighting (in preference to electric) and some damp drying work during the winter months. It's been joined in recent years by a couple of smarter looking 315’s, one purchased and the other assembled from spare bits. To help keep them looking good, I purchase a new hood every now and then, this has led to several spares of various colours. Hence they get dressed appropriately for the occasion, generally a brass or red look for the BBQ’s table displays, then it’s back to everyday black or army green and mostly with a diffused globe for the 305 when camping and generally travelling around in the back of the car. The lamps travels with a few basic tools that I find useful, a clear BIC pen shell is used as a dip stick pipette, marked off in half pints (an evening’s worth of fuel), a short length of mains cable is used as a grip when I need a little extra help to undo a filler cap, a camping stove aluminium screen to stop the light blinding neighbouring campers and a small funnel, these all fit in the travel case with a spare mantels. Handles have also been adjusted so they detach with a twist from the lamps, they just look better that way when on table duty and they don’t damage the paint work when in transit. Fuel is mostly C10-14 paraffin (UK BBQ lighter fuel), I generally find it odourless and if left in the original container, easy to transport and to refill from. The Bialaddin’s are often joined by a couple of CampingGaz 206's when camping, these being smaller and quicker to light when returning at night. They generally hang from the tent roof while the pressure lamp(s) get going. Which either sit on the table or on the floor when I need that campfire effect to warm the toes or to do a bit of sock drying work. Always the brightest and I suspect the warmest tent on the site. It is very rare that I see anyone else with a pressure lamp now a days, perhaps it’s a generation thing or an existing technology waiting to be rediscovered by the younger generation. As such, I always make a point of taking one for my evening visit to the loo block [restroom], as well as helping to keep me warm if the weather is not at its best. It instantly changes the atmosphere in thoes cold damp concrete bunkers that you can find on some remote sites.
Welcome ... some great pictures, I always do similar at campsites it’s amazing the interest you get from others.
Hello and welcome! You have some classic and reliable lanterns there The reflective wind shield and storage/carry bags look useful as well!
Welcome to CPL; you are going to fit in fine. I too marvel at the same way that people from all over the world came up with different ways to produce the same outcome; how to transform a liquid into light and heat. Have a look through the gallery, but be careful; there is a lot of temptation in them.
@DaveR Welcome from Queensland Australia. I enjoyed reading your introduction and I’m looking forward to seeing your future posts. Cheers Pete
@DaveR Hi and welcome along. Always good to hear about lamps being used, who wouldn't be without a pressure lamp when camping?
Welcome @DaveR , We all enjoy much the same things. In general, nobody uses pressure lamps anymore except guys like us. Ok, maybe the Amish community still does.
