Hi, I have this lovely A C Wells Manchester Unbreakable House lamp. (Safety from Explosion). Does anyone have any further. Information on it ? thanks Steve
Hi Jean, pics later once my wife has done s little cleaning. Could you see the photo of the box I uploaded ? Steve
Ah sorry Jean. I thought you were replying to my other post about the lantern. here are photos of the A C Wells House lamp. If I remember it came from a family whose dad had been down the mines. Steve
Grace's guide online has some info : A. C. Wells and Co - Graces Guide This lantern would not have been used in a mine as it has an open flame. The image below shows it would have had a small gallery and a glass chimney - not unlike a pigeon lamp.
Ah thank you very much. I see, so missing the brass gallery and glass chimney, that’s a shame, would be lovely to have it complete but never mind. As called a ‘House lamp’ then was it for use in the house ?, I just wonder why it is stamped ‘Safety from explosion’, was that there for any particular reason ? Great Well’s advertisement imagery by the way, I just love things like that. Steve
I suspect, like the pigeon lamp the long brass tube with the wick inside it stops any flame making it to the fuel tank, which is stuffed with material that prevents liquid running out if it gets knocked over or dropped. The adverts say it was designed to run on "benzolene" - so benzole or "motor spirit" (early petrol) made from coal. The nearest equivalent today would be coleman fluid. Base camp sells gallery/glass for pigeon lamps but I have no idea if it will fit
Ok thanks loads. I bought sone thin vintage wicks last year (if only I could find them) as the lamp doesn’t gave a wick currently. There is ‘material of some sorts’ stuffed inside and I can see some kind of metal concertina shield ? i have coleman fuel from newer camping stoves I have used. And I will checknout basecamp for gallery / glass options. thanks loads Steve
Base camp also might have the round wick you will need. Mike will probably know more about the lamp than I
The tube on a pigeon lamp is 8.2mm Outside and 6.7mm inside diameter. Measurements are approximate as my example is not exactly round. this link for pics (11th post down) Wick Alert - Pigeon lamp fuel question
