Hi all, When I first saw this electrified lamp, it looked like, what is sometimes called,a "Steampunk" lamp. Pressure gauge, brass tubes and a soldered branch of holders for electric lamps. I knew immediately what it was, as I had seen another example of this lamp (minus electric cord and electric bulbs) on the French lamp forum in 2018. I did buy it although I was sure it would be a great challenge to restore it back to life. I had hoped for that essential burner parts were undamaged and yes the jet and generator were OK, only one drilled hole in the combined fuel and generator U-tube. The tank had one drilled hole and unfortunately the fuel pick-up tube was gone and the main fuel valve was drilled with a 6mm hole for the electric cord. Another hole in the end cast mixing tube burner part. I made contact with the owner of the other only known example of this lamp, the French collector Serge Dupont. He helped me by sending picture of his undamaged lamp and was a great support throughout this restoration. I managed to fix the electrocution damages ..... the tank was plugged and soldered tight and the other holes were plugged. I had to fix a new pick-up tube and connected that by a by-pass operation through the main fuel valve. A new wire mesh to the burner, a pricker rod and needle were needed. As was a holder for the mantle. Then only one problem left; the fuel/pump plug non return valve, where spring and rubber with holder were gone. It was a type I never seen before, but with pictures from Serge I managed to also fix that part. Made a pressure test and all OK and finally a lighting try with great success. So...... What is this lamp? This is a "Kinley-Licht und Apparatebau Gesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main" lamp. This lamp has a drop-in type font and indicates a frame or lyre and a suspension type of lamp. Made probably around 1905, give or take a couple of years, as the Kinley-Licht company was only active for a short period in the very beginning of the 1900.s! There are no paperwork for identifying this lamp. There are a couple of burner patents 1901 and 1904 for the Kinley-Licht and also Phillip Ullmann, that could have had some meaning to the burner design of the burner on this lamp, but no direct match. Leading persons in the Kinley-Licht company are soon later involved in two other German lamp companies - Continental-Licht und Apparatebau-Gesellschaft and Standard- Licht-Gesellschaft. This info comes from the research of Erik Leger through PLC Neal McRae!! /Conny
Well Conny looks a lovely lamp now Taken a lot of skill and work to get it running but well done was a challenge I think Cheers pete
As always a good restoration and well documented. I often wonder where you find these rare and strange old lights.
Conny, yet another extremely rare lamp that has saved! Thank you documenting the restoration for everyone. Superb work as always.
Admirable work Conny! This lamp was in such poor condition that it is a miracle (or rather an artist's work!) to have saved it. Now the two go hand in hand; an amazing detail: in these cases, these lamps come from the same French department, the Ardèche, between Lyon and Avignon, which seems very curious for a German lamp?
Thanks again Serge for your contribution to the restoration process. Funny thing about that our two German lamps are from the same French district! I know that Lyon was a center for wholsalers and dealers of German lamps and wick burners from late 1800,s into the beginning of 1900. Maybe the origin is Lyon! /Conny
What a find and what a fettle! Very interesting and well documented post, a pleasure to read. Ps, where do you find all these lovely lamps?
