I came across this advertisement for a ‘town gas’ burner having two mantles incorporated, one inside a larger outer one. The mantles would presumably have to be rigid, like those on Aladdin or Famos wick lamps, to mount them succesfully in the frame. Not a pressure lamp concept therefore but not something I’m aware was adopted for oil-burning wick lamps either. John
Ah, Linlithgow, must be over 30 years ago since I visited the place! Believe it or not, but we slept inside the castle wall and got a free tour of the castle. My friend Graham's friend Graham lived there as a policeman/guard if I got that right. I slept next to a Triumph motorcycle of pre war vintage, that is pre WW1. Good times! And yes, this burner is also new to me! But gas lighting was never as popular over here as in the UK. Flanders is (and was in them days) a densely populated place so it was do-able and economical to bring electrickerty to most of the houses. Only some remote small farms* and hamlets had to make do with paraffin wickies for a longer period. * The farmers on these small farms were often called "wheelbarrow farmers" as that was their only means of transport. No horse(s), so if they were lucky they had a (couple) cow(s) to milk and to plough the land. Some had to do things by spade as they only had a few pigs and a small flock of chickens, both animals not really suited for working the land..... Near the city of Dendermonde there was a hamlet lying inside a bend in the river Schelde called Vlassenbroek. Most people living there were poor fishermen that used nets to catch fish in the river. The fresh fish would be packed in hay or straw and put on a two wheeled hand cart and off they went to Brussels to sell their fish. When lucky, all was sold before reaching Brussels as it was over 25miles each way. My mother witnessed this as a young girl in between both world wars. Oowright, here endeth the history lessen! Sorry for hijacking your post John! @presscall
@Wim Hey, no apology necessary Wim, that’s fascinating information. Ah, the Triumph. Nothing so old but I’ve enjoyed the Triumph marque, Tiger Cub to learn on, then a 3TA 350cc, finally a ‘58 Triumph Thunderbird. John
