How do I identify a lamp?

Hello. Having had a life-long interest in paraffin stoves, I found myself buying two Vapalux lamps a couple of weeks back. I can't find any identifying marks on the, except the word "Vapalux" on brass collars around the stem. They look like this Vapalux. Paraffin lamp.. Both need a a little work, one having a cracked glass (I see they are available) and the other having lost a burner spigot (?) and air cap. The cap seems to be available but not the spigot. I could make one good one from the two, but that seems very wasteful. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.

 

Welcome, well any good id start with a photo ;-)
Or better multiple photo's.

 

Welcome @Aetheric, scroll down to item V29 on this page Vapalux,& Bialaddin Lantern Spares

or befriend someone with a lathe.

 

Thanks.

 

A few photos

 

OK, looks like ex-MOD 320 from the 1990's. Good workhorse lanterns and parts won't be a problem.

 

I may have a spare spigot from an old burner. If I have, it's yours.

 

Thankyou for that. I did wonder as there was so little info on them. I got them on FB market place.

 

That's very kind of you. If you have then I'll send you the carriage costs.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Here it is. It's old but the threads are still good and it'll certainly do a turn, even if you end up buying a new old stock one eventually.





I'll clean it up before I send it. I just need an address.

 

If you clean up the burner, I would caution against disassembly and definitely don't try to unscrew the three air tubes! They seldom go back correctly and sometimes won't work again. Same applies to the dome!

 

If you use the 'Start a conversation' feature on my profile and send me your address, I'll post it off

 

My post from yesterday seems to have vanished. Unfortunately your spigot seems to be quite different to mine. Photo attached

 

That's not a spigot, that's one of the air tubes but I have some of those as well. The spigot is the central tube that one end of the mantle fixes to, whereas your photo shows one of the three air tubes that fits into the main body of the burner. I'll send one of each if you need, just let me know.

This is a burner without the spigot and with no air buttons


This is a complete Vapalux/Bialaddin burner.


This is a disassembled burner with an air tube missing.


Hope this helps.

 

Thank you for your helpful advice. I'm on a steep learning curve! If you have a spare air tube (I hope that's right) I would be very grateful. I have found a site that seems to sell the air buttons. My address is 34, Goylands Close, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5RB. Please let me know the carriage costs. Thanks again. John.

 

Excellent, I'll send one off asap.

 

Now then, I looked at my spares and compared them to your photos as something didnt look right so I checked... the air tubes I've got are different

I'm pretty sure these spare air tibes are from a Tilley so they wont fit. If you look at the end where the air button would screw on, the thread is longer and a different pitch. I tried to screw on a spare Vapalux air button and it just doesn't fit!

Sorry about this. I've got an old spigot but not an air tube and the complete burner is too useful to either sell or scavenge for parts.

Can someone else help?

 

After a bit of head scratching I was pointed towards a listing on eBay for a complete burner at a reasonable price, so that should give me plenty of spares. Thank you for your help.

 

I would just use the newer burner - your old one looks pretty well worn. It looks like it was actually used a lot. Look forward to seeing it work

 

Oh excellent, I have a load of Tilley spares and a few Vapalux/Bialaddin spares, but not an air tube! I'm glad you got it sorted.