What happened to Vapalux.com and J.J.

I wonder what happened to the project. The lanterns look stunning...but the site is dead. Theses days with Corona bored collector around the globe such a business should go through the roof...not down the crappers.
Any word, update or a bit of gossip?

 

@Christoph-HH Is this guy even in business anymore?! Everything, and I mean everything on this site is sold out! Hellva way to run a business... Don't you restock an item when it's sold out???

I checked his site months ago and it was the same thing then - sold out... You would think something would be back in stock, maybe mantels for example.

This situation goes back before the covid19 hysteria started. I think he's out of business and simply hasn't pulled the site.

This is a great lantern even these new ones from all I heard. I would think the parts alone would be sufficient to keep the site up and running. Especially those parts for the E41 lanterns.

 

@george @Christoph-HH

What site is it to which you refer? Do you have a URL?

Tony

 

@Tony Press
I think it's this one

VAPALUX

 

@Henry Plews

That factory/outlet was open last year (I had email exchange with them when I was in Incheon). They may be in an hiatus due to the second wave of COVID-19 in South Korea, but I think @isfuzzy had some dealings with them - I’m not sure when.

Tony

 

@Christoph-HH You may try messaging them via instagram. Its a faster message and reply over there. It is true they been out of supplies it seems. I really think that the raw materials comes from their neighbor. The manufacturing facility doesn't seem too large either. The last stock before they totally ran out, were the Army Edition. After that, corona hits China in the earlier stages. And yes S.Korea is still having the effects of it. So even if the owner could operate the machines, that alone is a great challenge without his team

@Tony Press I only got the E41 and some spares from them once
If its just some smaller items, i would go for substitutes elsewhere with cheaper shipping.

 

I just wonder in general about the company. Great idea, obviously good craftmenship and no doubt a big demand....and then they seemed as having vanished.
Even in Covid times a company should/ would answer emails.

 

I ordered a product from a company in South Korea this week. They cancelled the sale on the basis that they can’t get air freight shipped at the moment.

Perhaps it’s a similiar situation with Vapalux.

 

Well why was is sold then in the first place ?

In general it may be good to also mention who this J.J. is.
I don't know, my only guess is, that it is the man who bought Vapalux ?

 

@WimVe

J.J is Jae-Jung, the collector from Taiwan who bought the brand and the machines well over 10 yrs ago.

Todays demand in such products is way higher than it was back then. Obviously markets change...and so in retrospect it was a good move JJ made. Just now he seems to have fallen off the planet.

 

Thank you.
My gues is that he didn't do it all alone.
Does anybody know how many people worked in the new bussiness ?

Covid may well be a bad player this year.

 

Blurb Books UK (page 3)

Bairstow Brothers (1985) Ltd. was put up for sale because the then owner (Stuart Kendall) was approaching retirement age. That's what I was told...

 

Phew, thought for a moment you were all after me or my husband John!

 

So any news ?
Anybody ?

 

Nothing... I checked a week ago and still DIW (dead in the warer)...
It's a real shame, too. He had quite a bit to offer.

 

Maybe it is harder for the original seller, stock gone, apparatus gone, history gone, lamps gone, heritage gone.
Ok money stays but I guess the whole idea was to continue the brand.

Edit: I have put a remark/question on their FB page.

 

There is also the possibillity that Jae-Jung Won is simply not able to run the business any longer, due to any scenario. Irrespective how many people he employs, he would likely still be the leader and motor behind it all. It would not be the first time that a small company with good products disappears because the inner structure and guidance fall away.

 

I also emailed the company last year and received no response.

Seeing as others are also interested, I’ll make some further inquiries today via another route.

 

I'm having the same sense of speculation as @M.Meijer .
In my raw gut feeling, unfounded, I'd be tempted to say that the site looks "too attractive" to endure time. Well, in my general view, nice things don't last very long. The costs and efforts involved for staying top-notched are in general, overwhelming.
I hope that's not the case and look forward to be proven wrong here.

 

Does anyone own such a new Vapalux lantern?

The site looks fantastic but ever since I checked it any of the shown lamps is sold out.

The company never replied to emails. All in all very sad. One more iconic brand from the UK goes down the crappers.

 

I understand @Robert Radcliffe has a sublime korean E41, and there should be more among the subscribers here. I am keen to get one of the E41 or 300 models, used would be fine too, just to sample the asian finesse of these fine lamps.
If the present Vapalux ceases to excist, it would be yet another coveted range of pressure lamps, and not just disappearing.
And iconic brands often attain that status by stopping production first, so to me no loss, only gain.

 

I haven’t checked the Korean site yet, but base-camp are starting to get new lamps and spares in again?
Not long ago there were no new Vapalux for sale but now the M320-B is back… www.base-camp.co.uk

 

I suspect this blue version was for sale all along, as the only one still listed. Perhaps because of the colour that does not endear all. I do not see any other lamp being offered by Base Camp, the Vapa site still proclaims everything 'Sold Out'. My theory is that something might have happened to Mr. Won, leaving the company without direction and business plan. Any enterprise pivoting on one person is structurally vulnerable.

 

Yes, perhaps that was so

Base-camp do say that more supplies of some spares are on the way to them from Vapalux?

 

This is not clear to me. Basecamp does seem to offer new parts made in Korea, next to used surplus. So unless one is the owner of a (rare) korean Vapa in need of parts, this is not exactly exciting news, for me anyway, as I have no such lamp.
Unfortunately, I must say.

 

So two years down the line, has anybody news?
I just took a look at the webshop but all lamps and parts are Sold Out.

Even the facebook page is dead.
I wonder if anybody has seen the special HD44 Christmas special (100 pieces max.)

 

@WimVe

"the special HD44" What is that, and in what context? Like this is an upcoming Christmas Special? Offered by who?
Meanwhile, my hankering after a korean Vapa has eVaparated, but I wonder if any such lamps are being offered (used) on th'Bay?

 

Sorry, is een facebook bericht van 7 sept. 2019:

 

I see. I fear that is only another model that is out of reach. One has to admire the ambitious gamma of Mr. Jon 's small enterprise though.

 

Well I think that the Vapalux company in the UK may have had less ambitious idea's at least they made lanterns.
I have had long conversations with B. Meijer back then about "taking over" and I always said: who wants to buy a kerosene lantern above XYZeuro's ? Maybe, maybe a collector. At prices around 400euro for a copy of a model I doubt there is a market.

Even petromax copies can't survive and you now can buy anything with petromax on it.
Only lanterns can't make a factory run.

There is a niche market for absolute parts but I will/can not pay 40euros for a Tilley 169 vaporiser.
Even mantle making isn't doing/going well either.