Hi all, I enjoy stepping back to the early 1900's with this "preferred No. 2" alcohol incandescent mouthpiece from the Continentale Nouvelle in mint condition. This earlier version seems quite rare. After my numerous discussions about this mouthpiece with my friend Conny Carlson, I fully associate this one with this article. After analyzing all the elements, this mouthpiece seems to have been launched around the year 1901/1902 after the "1900 mouthpiece" model of the Continental Nouvelle. Documents on a financial diary dated 1902 indicate that the "Caisse Franco Néerlandaise 3, rue Blanche, Paris" teaches us that the company "La Continental Nouvelle" had existed for 3 years, therefore around 1900, which would correspond to the name of the first model "le bec 1900" subject N°11 see here: French early incandescent wick burner lamps Likewise Conny thinks it's likely that each model had two sizes available. 120 cp and 180 cp. The gallery of this one is identical to the alcohol spout of the same period of the SF Auer presented by conny. My "Preferred N°2" CN model 180 cp mouthpiece is built on the principle of the 1895 patent by Schuster & Baer in Germany. I chose from my stocks a lamp base I sealed a cut crystal tank 17 cm in diameter with plaster of Paris this tank has a screw cap sealed with epoxy for filling the fuel. I created a new heat resistant intermediate gasket. This one is mounted on a 39.5mm thread it carries a 50mm diameter crystal chimney, a pretty crystal tulip is on the way. Light tests were done with a 1969 Aladdin upright gaslight muff. Some images with comparisons and its light. I thank again my friend Conny for these fruitful exchanges and his great kindness. Thank you all for sharing. Best regards, Titoo.
Hi Patrick, You always find the appropriate stylish lamps to your rare burners. There were probably a lot going on in that company "Continentale Nouvelle", from let´s say 1899 to 1902. Several burner models launched with the "1900" as the first and then the number 1 and No.2 burners. These burners came probably in two sizes each and the number 2 burners you have shows that. The bigger burner with that gallery identical to the German DEGEA/SF Auer burner I have, is a bit confusing. The same technical approach with a Shuster & Baer patent type burner, but it is not a replica of that Degea/SF Auer burner. All the same .... a bit of fascinating burner/lamp history from the exciting year span of technical evolution ..... 1895 -1910! /Conny
Thank you all for your interest. Conny, I enjoy reading you again. I think that over time we will discover even more about these small companies or craftsmen of the development of lighting which offered for the time with fierce competition revolutionary devices. It is wonderful with passion to be able to bring their lights back to life. Last night I prepared a lighted dinner with this lamp, my better half was very surprised by the quality of the lighting and the soft "hissing" of this lamp. To finish I slip two images of my two other second generation CN mouthpieces. On the left the CN "preferred N°1" of 14" with 180 cp thread of 39.5 mm glass of 48 mm. On the right the "preferred" CN N°2 of 10" 120 cp thread of 32 mm glass of 38 mm. Both are identical to Conny's featured in her topic here at CPL. The most difficult thing was to find the real vintage round wick of 4 mm in diameter suitable for these burners, I searched for 4 years and I finally managed to find a few months ago, with the vintage label. Best regards, Titoo.
