Maybe someone in this forum has knowledge about Chalwyn Lamps, former manufacturer of lanterns? I have done some research (and put the findings on my website, in Danish, as usual) but I still have some lose ends: When did Chalwyn actually start, as a company - and what did they do in the beginning? I know that they sometime before WW II made headlights for trains, but even that I know nothing more about. Shortly after the war, they began making the lanterns, that would become their major source of income for a while. But before that, they aparrantly had lanterns made by some other company - what, who, when? Around 1970 they sold their South African factory - who bought it? Did the buyer continue to produce lanterns? Under what name? Does that company still exist and still produce any kinds of lamps or lanterns? From the mid-1980'ies Chalwyn lanterns were manufactured by a Czech company - which one? Meva? In the 90'ies a Chinese company took over this manufacture, but which company was that? When exactly did Chalwyn produce their roadwork warning lanterns ("bat" style lanterns)? 1960'ies? 1970'ies? And were they produced on equipment brought home from Germany (HASAG) after the war? I hope that someone can help with some of the questions - and perhaps add more interesting details to it
My father Jack Drewett was Managing Director of Chalwyn Lamps from 1952 until his death in 1958. The Chairman was Wyndham Hewitt who lived in France. Chalwyn made safety cut-offs for diesel engines until they sold the business about ten years ago. Chalwyn Estates now manages the property in Parkstone Dorset where the original factory was located.
@Christopher Drewett Hi Christopher and welcome to the forum. I’m sure your presence here will attract some more questions! I have to ask, are you a lamp collector? Stevie
No. But as the son of Chalwyn's former boss I was very involved with Chalwyn in my teenage years, and spent a lot of time at the factory. I never realised that early Chalwyn lamps have become collectible.
Chalwyn was formed in 1943 when Wyndham Hewitt, the founder, looked towards what type of business might do well after the war. Chalwyn is made up of the first names of two of the original directors: Charles Allen and Wyndham. The third, Nigel Page-Roberts, my father and also Wyndham Hewitt’s nephew, did not quite make it!) He was a skilled tool maker and made the first press tools for Chalwyn lamps. He was running an engineering, sub-contract business in Romsey for Wyndham Hewitt and found the factory site, which is now Chalwyn Estate, in Poole in 1952. Jack Drewett was its first Managing Director, as Chris has mentioned. The factory was ideal as the previous company, Mass Products, had gone into receivership having made Sten Guns during the war and had the presses in situ to make the lanterns. At its height in the 50’s, Chalwyn became one of the biggest employers in Poole. Their great competitor was Feuerhand who had the latest equipment due to the US Lend Lease program after the war and was able to produce lanterns far cheaper than Chalwyn and dominated the world market. Chalwyn was always trying to diversify but I have never not heard of them making train lamps. Certainly, they went into mass manufacturing of Road Danger lamps till the early 80’s. Lantern production ended in the late 60’s, so I believe; however, the company continued to sell the glass globe- or ‘chimney’- to East and West Africa until the 00’s. 6-8 Million being sold a year was not uncommon - the Flag & Torch trademark label was well known and much copied! The South African company was closed due to the fact Wyndham visited and found they were doing some ‘home’ work. It was closed I think for that reason. In the 80’s, Chalwyn distributed Feuerhand lanterns into the UK then, in 1990’s, imported Meva lanterns from their factory in Roundnice, Czech Republic, which they badged Chalwyn ‘Tropic’ which was Chalwyn’s old brand name in the early days. These were painted silver but also different colours. The original Tropic lanterns were pressed, nickel-plated steel - Hot nickel plating being outlawed in the UK. I can’t remember the Chinese company that produced some lanterns right at the end, but they did not conform to British Standards this were withdrawn. The Bat trademark was owned by a Leeds-based company (whose name escapes me) The company made glass bottles and so made the larger Pilot style gloves predominantly for East Africa. They also made Chalwyn torch-branded globes and, for a time, these were made in the Czech Republic by a small concern, but the supplier closed in the end. Hope that helps and I’m sure others, who worked for Chalwyn in the latter years, can provide a lot more detail!
Freddy, you're a Star ! ... A warm welcome ! Riveting stuff!...We Want More !!!!! e.g. why was hot nickel plating banned in the U.K.? p.s. Do you collect lamps then?
@Freddy Page-Roberts Hi and welcome to the forum. Thank you and @Christopher Drewett for sharing your knowledge, it’s now recorded and available to those with an interest. Without such contributions, historical detail is lost. If you have any old related photos or ephemera, this band of paraffin soaked lampies would be eager to see it!
Hot dip tinning back in the day involved I think a basket being raised from the vat and people having to pick off the lanterns at very high temps to dry. We were told that Feuerhand used Turkish immigrants to do this work. No idea why it was outlawed Int he UK but I think you get the idea! I’m not a collector but I do have a few lanterns!
Great story, I love it!... Sound similar to hot dip galvanising, with a slightly lower temperature... you would still have to take care to 'vent' things being dipped, as trapped air can explode sending molten metal everywhere
Wonderful anecdotes re Chalwyn. Thanks for contributing your knowledge of the history. The Chalwyn lanterns made their way to Australia too and I still see this brand at many markets. I got the 35cm one in 1985 and the small Tropic earlier. Both still work.
@paul m your lamps look great. I bought a dozen on those chalwyn green glasses, thought jackpot...then I tried one in a lamp and I was quite disappointed by the glum output... They did a red version that gives a better glow, but I found the green ones a big disappointment....although they do look good in a lamp..
Gary, were they for the large older version or smaller ones for the newer one, i found 12 Chalwyn Tropic glasses in the barn today
Starboard light for a boat. That was my only guess but I would like to know also, as tin lamps were probably not the best for a boat so it must be something else.
When I was young... I would sometimes have to catch the steam train at night from Mandurama to Bathurst to get back to boarding school. We had to light a red glassed lantern and wave the train down as it approached the station. Tony
@paul m they are bigger than the tropic glasses, they are for the medium size lamps. I have some in red also that I use.
This is to no individual in particular, but I’m an American guy who stumbled across a very dusty, touch rusty Chalwyn Lynx in a small town local store. I’m inquiring as to whether anyone would be able to give me more information about this lamp and what they were used for. It came with an aftermarket red globe, (as noted by the lack of any manufacturer’s mark and notably lacking the torch insignia of Chalwyn) also inquiring as to if anyone would have an original Chalwyn red globe for this lamp to sell. Thank you all.
Hi. I have my late dads old FAREAST Chalwyn lantern which I am restoring. My dad painted it sliver because it had some rust. I really think it may never have been painted originally. I can't see any original coat of paint under my fathers coat. I gather the metal was originally nickel plated. Has anyone any advice on what "paint" I should use? Thinking again perhaps after cleaning I should just lightly oil it? This lantern was on a New Zealand farm. Cheers John
@A. Horstman I can check on the globes and see what I have but I’ll need time - don’t move too fast these days. I know I had one with the paper labels still on it!
Hi all new to the group because I found a rusty old oil lamp in a village in Cyprus. Was going to try and clean it up and stick a candle in it for the garden. Found Charwyn, made in England and Conquest underneath all the rust. Googled it and found my way here. My lamp looks very similar to the Tropic but I haven’t been able to find any information on Conquest was hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction
Just received an interesting addition to my collection. Left of centre in this picture. It is a variation of the Chalwyn Tempest that I’ve only recently become aware of. It bears a remarkable resemblance to a Dietz D-Lite ( Left ) Not identical but very close. What I do not know is where it fits in the chronology. Right of centre we have the common Tempest shape with the metal filler cap. Right of that is the same shape with the plastic filler cap which I assume is later. ( The caps are not interchangeable by the way. ) I wonder now if the Dietz style Tempest fits before the two on the right or after?
