Hi I have this lamp and would like to know about any information you could give eg possible date, worth and how to ignite. Have tried putting this on the website without success. Please could you help.
Hi @Moz and welcome ! We don’t offer valuations here as it’s part of being a member etc That looks like a nice complete example of a GB lantern! We are happy to help with any information or history for likeminded folks or collectors When you said you tried to put your lamp on the website did you mean the reference gallery or the trade/for sale area? Regards
I was not wanting to sell it just wanted general information on this kind of lamp and to see if this kind of lamp is still of interest to people. Would like to know how to set it up and all general information on the lamp would be appreciated. Would love to see it lit.
Hi Moz.. Ok great! There is lots of info and help here and also a reference library but that is only open to subscribers? It’s really a peppercorn amount to help with admin costs.. the library contents have mainly been donated by other collectors .. Apologies if I seemed a little starchy but when folks mention valuations it kind of puts me on my guard a little? There will be folks here who have first hand knowledge of your lamp They will be the ones who will be able to tell you what to look for on your lamp to enable you to get it fired up!
Welcome aboard! That is a great find and the first link below shows the relevant lamp pages and the second link shows a Blanchard catalogue, but the library is only open to subscribers. Blanchard & Barnard https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/1929-blanchard-brochure.1486/
Looks a nice lamp and pretty much complete by what i can see of it I have one here in the kitchen which i light up now n again good luck getting it going tough lamp for a first lamp to restore but someone must be nearby who could help cheers pete
All pressure lamps need to be completely overhauled before they are lit, the seals wear out and need to be replaced or the lamps will leak, perhaps there is an experienced collector in your area who can help.
Thank you …..hopefully there may be someone on this forum more local to me that would be willing to help. Thank you for sharing
With a Barnard pressure gauge this is likely a Barnard lamp not a Blanchard. Pretty much the same though and looks to be the equivalent to a Blanchard 1373 and maybe that stamp B 137 is Walter Barnard's model. Walter worked for Blanchard but only began making his own lamps in the late 1920s. He retired in 1964 but because the design never changes we can only date the lamps 1927 to 1964. These are very much not a beginners lamp to work with although lighting is simple enough. Fettling is another matter as you need some special tools to dismantle the burner and remove things like the jet and pricker. I would strongly recommend you have someone show you rather than try on your own. Do be careful with that globe as they are no longer available and getting near impossible to replace. I am about an hour drive away and will certainly help if you want to take the time. ::Neil::
Thank you for that information…..have had it sitting in the shed and thought I would do some delving as to its originality. Not sure whether to have a go of restoring it myself but as you say … not a beginners lamp to work on ….we’ll see
This might help some. It doesn't have lighting instructions though but that's the easy bit once you make sure all the seals are good and it holds pressure and passes fuel. The pre-heat meth cup holds about 12ml of methylated spirit but you can't see the cup when filling so you need to measure the meth in. Close the valve and give the beast about 5-10psi pressure. Light the pre-heat meth and when it's about all gone open the valve. It takes about 2 minutes to burn off the meth but for a first lighting I would add more meth after about a minute to be sure the burner is hot enough. You might need to rotate the pricker control to clear the jet but if all is well the mantle will light. Best you do this without the glass to begin with as it is easy to spill some meth into the globe and that can create an interesting loud pop when it ignites. Once running add more pressure to about 20psi. ::Neil::
On inspection there doesn’t seem to be the part for changing the +/- pressure Is it called the pump cylinder?? Are these still available??? As you can tell a complete novice!
I think you may have misunderstood the drawing which shows two options, the one on the right is indeed a pump whereas the item on the left is not. You have this option often referred to as a filler plug, which does not need a pump barrel because it is used in conjunction with a bicycle pump. Refer to the drawing in the p.d.f. posted by Neil, to add pressure to the tank (a.k.a. fount, font or reservoir), unscrew the "wing nut" two turns, attach a bicycle pump to the "pump nipple" and pump in air. Remove the pump and tighten the wing nut. Job done. The pump nipple/wing nut combination will screw out completely and if you do so, you will see that the end tapers to a point thus making it a needle valve. Consider it a belt and braces approach to keeping pressure in the tank, if the cork (38) or spring (35) should fail, the needle valve will hold in the pressure.
Blanchard mantles are a soft cloth mantle on a ceramic ring clip and originals are not available in quantity. Most of us will re-use the ceramic ring by tying on a 500cp mantle of the Petromax/Butterfly type. I would suggest get a couple maybe from Mike at Base camp and if you do break one then keep the ceramic and re-use it. Just another quirk of keeping a 110 year old lamp design working. ::Neil::
As Neil suggests, get a couple from Mike at base-camp Eighth item down on the page I linked to BLANCH Original soft Blanchard mantle on ceramic ring, for table lamps and pressure lamps, limited stocks..! £ 3.50
Update …..and thanks to everyone’s input very much appreciated. Now it works will start the restoration ….any do’s or dont’s would be appreciated.
