Could anyone advise on the model numbers and dates of these two lamps ? Not in the best of conditions, but saveable, and I will do my best. Interesting that both are from a village about 2-miles from Stamford. Also, Kitson Engineering Co. (London) Ltd (rather than ‘Empire’).
Welcome aboard! Good fettling projects and the link below shows two pages of adverts and there are several Kitson adverts amongst them, but the library is only open to subscribers. Other Brands
The company name changed from "Empire" to "Engineering" in 1922 which dates your lamp from then to about 1929. Nice finds. I have seen several examples of KD4 but the A type do-nut is a very uncommon lamp of which I only know perhaps two examples so I do hope that can be restored to function. ::Neil::
Have been stripping the A Type lamp this past week. All seized bits responded to care and WD40 without breakage, and the donut is in surprisingly good condition (tin plated under the filth). Not sure I have the courage to try and make it fully functional, but will keep all intact, clean out the tiny nozzle, and then in the future someone else could always give it a try. The main issue however is that there is no ‘Mantle’ and no glass dome. Does anyone have any useful ideas as to where I could get a suitably sized glass dome ?? Have loosely reassembled, with period bolts and screws (from my oddments drawers), so next is to treat the rust, and then paint black. Here’s a picture of progress to date. The feed tube from donut to light isn’t fitted, but has cleaned up nicely.
Detailseite: Glasglocken für Hängelampen- - hytta.de Glasglocke 165 . . . . . äußerer oberer Kragendurchmesser 165 mm für 150 mm Loch · Höhe 175 mm Glass bell 165 . . . . outer upper collar diameter 165 mm for 150 mm hole · Height 175 mm
Well the one I have here runs very well and your example looks at least as sound as mine did when I got it. I seem to remember the burner/generator is simple enough to clean out and the only real problem can be the steel jet if it has rusted over the hole but there is a trick to fettle that. ::Neil::
Conserved (rather than fully restored), keeping old enamel where possible … just need the mantle and glass bell now …
They were made with a central dimple with the jet hole in the middle and rust in there interferes with the gas steam which can make the burn yellow or very poor and smelly so fettle is to lap down the jet to the level of the hole removing the dimple. Needs doing carefully because there isn't much metal left where the hole is so when you get close with a file you need to finish with an oil stone until you get a clean flat top with a neat small round hole. Then run a pricker wire up there and just maybe you will get a good clean bright burn. I learnt this trick from some of the German Petromax guys who reckoned this could sometimes fettle a Petromax jet. I have a Kitson KD4 do-nut lamp and all it ever did was lots of yellow flame and smoke so I lapped the jet down and since it runs perfectly and has been on display a few times at Ipswich where it always did 4 hours or so without any attention. I can’t guarantee it will always work but steel jets don’t wear much so the chances are good. ::Neil::
