Stamp on the clamp specifying ‘tested’. Date stamp is my guess, 4th September 1941, or perhaps just the month (April) and year. The burner, a Bray ‘Luta’ of a moderately high output of 14 litres (volume of acetylene passed in a minute). Lutas of greater output could double that figure. Some work to do, replacing this water-tank-to-carbide-container seal, perished and broken in its circumference. Cut from 8mm nitrile sheet. The water tank had rust holes. Rust treatment applied, then lead solder tinning of the surface followed by a coat of JB Weld. New seal inserted. The corroded flange isn’t critical to function. A shackle loop ringed had sprung and distorted. A brazed repair … … which I then nickel plated to visually blend with the steel. Fuelled up and lit. John
@MYN Easily enough, yes, but only one supplier I know of and more expensive from them than my pre-Brexit sources in Italy and Germany. Even with carriage factored in they were cheaper than the UK source but won’t now export here. Too much paperwork now I suppose.
Good to know @presscall They are certainly less common now. There used to be a calcium carbide manufacturing Plant in my hometown. It has shutdown many years ago. Carbide was available from many hardware and even sundry shops in those earlier years. Carbide lamps were still used in the night markets when I was much younger. Portable generator sets were hardly seen.
A bit of biographical detail about the company. This promotional booklet was produced by them around 1911, primarily advertising their oxy-acetylene welding equipment and services. This illustration shows the company’s acetylene generator, coupled with an oxygen cylinder. Though there’s no example of an acetylene hand lamp featured in the booklet, the company evidently manufactured powerful acetylene lamps to illuminate construction work, much as Tilley floodlights did at a later date. I have a lamp of that sort, minus a reflector, equipped with a Bray Luta burner with an output of 35 litres, so substantially greater than the 14 litre output of the hand lamp.
No longer in business @MYN unless as a firm under another name with trading or family links unknown to me. Their premises on Octavius Street, London are long gone, probably the site of the multi-storey building seen on a satellite image here.
Thanks John, that’s an interesting read :-) The handlamp looks to be quite well made and robust I think i have used some Milne welding or cutting gear, a while ago now .. again it was nicely made. I do like the older posters/ advertisements ; i remember my old boss telling me they had a tank for the acetylene and that his Dad ( a blacksmith) would get him to add the carbide and control the water when he was a lad that was all low pressure before they brought out the acetylene in cylinders cheers, p
Glad you liked that @podbros and thanks for that priceless nugget of industrial history passed on by word of mouth! Here’s an advertisement from 1934 for one of Milne’s oxy-acetylene outfits, incorporating an acetylene generator. Grace’s Guide contains this little gem in an entry for Suffolk Iron Foundry (SIF), concerning a chance meeting on a London-bound train between the founder of SIF, Louis Tibbenham, and C.S. Milne. Tibbenham originated Sifbronze brazing rod, which is still marketed. Here’s mine, coated with flux as I prefer. Coming full circle from that chance meeting on a train, fully one hundred years ago, I used Mr Tibbenham’s product to repair that of Mr Milne, a Sifbronze braze of the sprung suspension hook shackle. Respect to you, Messrs T and M!
Oh how cool ! they made good lawnmowers too! quite a few of the early businesses developed from smithys / blacksmiths that diversified into related fields such as agriculture or engineering or motor cars i just wish i had remembered more stories.. priceless , some of em :-)
I agree. Even old industrial sites has special charm - red brick walls, chimneys etc... New sites look just like logistics centers. Thank you John for yet another interesting thread all the best, Piotrek
@Sedgman The welder depicted in the illustration on the cover is wearing goggles but no-one featured in the photographs is shown with them. On CCS, where I also presented this topic, a contibutor said, In SIF-TIPS, a quarterly magazine produced by Suffolk Iron Foundry to promote welding and their products, by 1932 the use of goggles had become more prevalent, judging by illustrations in this issue and on the cover.
Yes I missed the obvious one but the others photos seemed odd without them but then OH&S was something that developed often after the horse had bolted. Thanks John, interesting as usual. @presscall
