Does anyone know anything about this ALG lantern? (Right) I have put it next to a Dietz Little Wizard no.30, which it seems very similar to, but there is no model name or number, just the ALG logo on the font.
This is an ALG No. 16 lantern which was built from the 1950ties on. It is similiar to the Model No. 16. Jörg
Hello @Dda The ALG No. 5 went into production c. 1930, together with the other (then-new) ALG cold blast models No. 6/7 and 8. All are listed in a catalog from c. 1930 and another one dated 1932. The No. 5 was the first of the cold blast models to be discontinued again, already during the 1930s. So your lantern was likely built in the first half of the 1930s. To the best of my knowledge, during the short production history of the No. 5 model, there were only two versions that differed in a minor detail of the pull ring on top of the chimney. If you post a picture of the top of the lantern, I might be able to say whether your lantern is the earlier or later version. The glass seems to be from the 1930s and therefore likely is original to the lantern. @Jörg Wekenmann : Thank you for the heads-up, Jörg. I hadn't been here for months... Best, Christina
Hello Christina, Thank you so much for all this interesting info, here is the view of the top of the lantern: Thanks again, Dan.
Hello Dan @Dda Thank you for the additional picture. This is the more commonly seen, and presumably later, version with an outwards-angled, "Omega"-shaped pull ring, directly inserted in the chimney top. Thus, I cannot date your lantern any more precisely than likely first half of the 1930s. For interest, here is an ALG catalog illustration of the No. 5 (from 1932, but likely already superseded at that point): This drawing shows an inwards-angled ring, inserted into a separate piece of sheet metal which apparently was fixed to the chimney top from below. That version is rather rare in reality. I've only seen photos of two No. 5 lanterns with such an assembly. Thus, my current best guess is that the more complex assembly was superseded by the simple Omega-shaped ring, that your lantern shows, very early on in production. Generally, the No. 5 is one of the less commonly found ALG models, rarely seen outside France. Congratulations! Just be careful with the tabs that hold the chimney top... Best, Christina
Hi Jörg, Just to thank you for ringing the bell. The info that came from Christina, for me, is just great! Dan
Christina, our night owl, is an extremely likeable collector (I've met her once). She is very dedicated and specializes in the ALG company. I was able to support her somewhat with my archive as part of her research. She has written an almost scientific treatise in German about the various storm lanterns produced by ALG! Who knows, maybe one day she will have time to present this treatise here on the PLC forum in English. Best regards, Jörg
Hi Christina, The stuff that some people knows is unbelievable from my side. Known from original time period brochures! The funny thing is that I'd haggled with the seller at a flea market for 2 euros, in the end took it for 24 euros and gave it a knew home, after cleaning the heavy rust.( that tabs that hold the chimney are indeed a pain in the arsh -knocked two of them-). Somehow, the funny thing is this "20s-"30s stuff keeps finding me - photo cameras, pushed bikes, and so on..Thank you for everything. Dan
Given that my own ALG No. 5 had paraffin left in the tank, I thought it should better spend some light than have the fuel get stale: The No. 5 is in the center, together with a contemporary ALG No. 6, sporting a rare, Fresnel lens like glass (left), and a first version ALG No. 15 "Luciole" from the early post-war period (right). @Dda Hi Dan, with regard to the 1920s-1930s items, I can certainly relate. Here, it's clocks, electric lamps, furniture, lots of beautiful and useful old items that I often prefer over newer alternatives. @Jörg Wekenmann: Thank you, Jörg, for your kind words. ALG wick lanterns might be rather off-topic for an extensive discussion on CPL, I am afraid. But of course I am happy to see if I can answer ALG-related questions that may come up. Best, Christina
You're amazing...showing those burning lamps...Give as more, I'm hungry for anything you have : any old object, imagery/writings/brochures in digital format, I don't want to waste the opportunity of all your knowledge. Of course if you're willing into doing this and if you have the time to spend with us. I don't know you, but already like you a lot. (sorry for the late reply but it's the daylight working time for me). Thank you!
Hello Dan @Dda Posting extensively on ALG wick lanterns here might be a bit too off-topic, I'm afraid, even if it's CPL's "open" forum. Not trying to distract from CPL, but if you are interested in the topic of ALG lanterns, there is a comprehensive thread on the German Pelam forum: Laternen-Modelle von ALG (Guillouard): Die Mischluft-"Marine" und andere - Pelam.de Forum Generally, there was (and still is) relatively little information on ALG on the net, but in that thread, you'll find various introductions of ALG lantern models and some catalog illustrations. Over the years, people from multiple countries have contributed--from Ukraine to the Netherlands and Italy. Feeding that thread into Google translate might result in the occasional weird expression, but generally the translation seems readable. Also, it is ok to ask questions on that forum in English as well. Maybe that would be of interest. Best, Christina
Hi Christina, I'm not an ALG fan, never known the brand before buying this lantern... I'm in my late 40's...but all my life I was attracted by things from that magical period of time, art nouveau-art deco ... Everything...top design. I've studied classical painting in my youth...don't believe in it anymore, with all the "great" masters and stuff, after the sociopathic 2019 experiment, the world , for me, is now much simpler and clear. Thank you for your kindness, Dan. (PS: If you care of continuing this dialog in private, not to bother this forum occupants, my email address is : dorucutate@yahoo.com....I'll understand if you don't)
[QUOTE="night_owl, post: 207147, member: View attachment 140724 @Jörg Wekenmann: Thank you, Jörg, for your kind words. ALG wick lanterns might be rather off-topic for an extensive discussion on CPL, I am afraid. But of course I am happy to see if I can answer ALG-related questions that may come up. Best, Christina[/QUOTE] This site has been a treasure trove of information about hot and cold blast lanterns for me but the lack of a specialist forum on wickies is what led to Steve and I setting up the “Wicked lanterns” group on Facebook. You would be more than welcome to talk as much as you like about ALG or any other wickies you fancy over there.
Evening, Could this be one of the earlier versions of the ALG No. 5 ? Recently purchased in France. The lamp burner has corroded so that the wick cannot be adjusted. Otherwise it is in good shape. Any suggestions for a repair to the burner gratefully received. Yours Jonathan P.S. I was delighted to read this page, a great pleasure to see people being friendly and civil with each other.
Have you tried pulling the wick down to free it? Sometimes it is the old wick that is the main problem. The next thing to try is soaking it in paraffin to see if that will release it a bit. if that does not work, I would soak it in a citric acid solution to remove the rust and then try again.
Morning, Thanks for those suggestions. Unfortunately the little wheels inside the burner, the ones which grip the wick, have corroded away. One is missing completely, the other is half missing. Replacement parts feels like the solution, if they are available, but any suggestions are welcome.
Hello @Jonathan70 Your lantern is an ALG No. 7 model, characterised by its tank shape. The No. 5 above has a double-walled tank (where the outer wall is only slightly curved), whereas the No. 7 has a single-walled tank which still is very robust due to its corrugated-iron like shape. Yours might be from the late 1930s at the earliest (assuming there is a relatively large filler cap on the back side, which I can't tell from the picture) to somewhere during the 1940s or maybe very early 1950s. My best guess at the moment would be 1940s, war-time or very early post-war production. Are there maybe any traces of tin-plating or remnants of an earlier paint coating (e.g., a blueish grey or dark green color) anywhere below the silver paint (which does not seem to be original)? Places to look for might be on the tank bottom, inside the tank/filler cap, inside the chimney when pulled upwards, etc. Also, could you maybe post a picture or describe any markings on the glass? Your 3rd picture looks like it is marked, but it's hard to see. Although glasses may of course have been exchanged in the past, this might also point to a certain period. Is the little cog wheel inside the burner certainly missing, or is it possible that it has just gotten loose and shifted on the shaft? If it has actually rusted away, probably there isn't much left of the burner as a whole and a replacement may be necessary. Guillouard still sells replacement burners through their web shop (guillouard.com -> Lampe -> Monte meche), which should normally fit even an 80 year old lantern. The new ones have a different adjustment wheel (the part you grip), but it may be possible to transplant the adjustment wheel of your old burner on a replacement burner's shaft if you want it to look period-correct. If all fails, I may or may not have a suitable old spare part at home (but I am not there right now, so can't tell for sure). Best, Christina
@paul m , not seen one before as far as I know, but the letters ABL stamped on the bottom might mean this lantern was made for the Belgian army.
Thank you both, @Wayland @night_owl Please see a couple more photos of the lamp. It does indeed have a relatively large filling cap inside which there is a little of the original plating left, I think. The silver paint is not original and I can't see any previous colour. The glass bears the ALG logo with recognition of the patent MARQUE MODELE above and DEPOSES below and the PYREX glass at the bottom. Looking at the Guillouard website I see a wick support for the Luciole lamp, just to confirm that this also fits the No. 7 we are discussing here? Monte Mèche - Pour Lampe Tempête "Luciole" - Guillouard Yours, Jonathan
Hi @Jonathan70 This embossed/pressed version of the ALG glass inscription is not that common and to the best of my current knowledge points to the 1940s. During the 1950s, ALG glasses showed a simpler inscription with an encircled ALG logo, but no more accompanying text. By contrast, during most of the 1930s, the same logo and text as on your glass was etched, not embossed. Unless somebody put an earlier glass in a later lantern, this points to the lantern likely being from the 1940s. The No. 7 model appeared to have remained in production for at least some time during WW II and again early on after the war. Presumably due to material shortages, some lanterns were not tin-plated, but merely painted (often in a blueish grey, but I've seen dark green and black ones where the color might have been original as well), supposedly war-time production. On these lanterns, the air tubes are also spot-welded to the top of the tank assembly. If your lantern possibly has some traces of tin-plating and no spot-welding points at the lower end of the air tubes (hard to tell, but I can't make out any on the photos), then I'd guess it's probably from some time early after 1945 (no idea when exactly Guillouard started plating again, though). Generally, all Guillouard burners for cold-blast lanterns are interchangeable. Production tolerances notwithstanding, a 2025 burner sold for the Luciole should fit even a No. 7 model from the 1930s or 1940s. Best, Christina
Dear Christian Thank you again. I attach photos of the lower ends of the air tubes which, as you thought, do not appear to show any welding so placing the lamp just after1945. There appears to be a small rust hole in the side of the tank through which fuel seeps so a solder repair will be needed there. And then the new burner, thanks for helping with the fit on that. Yours Jonathan
