Hello Floss and welcome! Interesting find.. there are a few threads on Chalwyn I did a search and found a list by @Jörg Wekenmann which included the name ‘conquest’ There was some information about the history of the company there too regards pb
Thanks PB I’ll try a search on Jorg. Spoke to a Cypriot neighbour and apparently these lamps are pretty easy to find here. He has a one with glass intact, his is stamped as made in Czechoslovakia. He thinks replacement glass shouldn’t be difficult to get. Regards
If it is Czech it is a MEVA lantern, made for Chalwyn. Large 3 digit numbers underneath the base may tell quarter and year of manufacture. I have to say I have never encountered a Conquest - and as you have found there is not much online about them.
Thanks …. Can’t find anything on Conquest at all. Thank you for the information re the Czech lamp you are right it is a MEVA lamp and all complete. 381 on the bottom so March 1981?
Chalwyn “Conquest” Hurricane Lantern Origin: Poole, Dorset, England Maker: Chalwyn Ltd. Era: Approximately 1950s–early 1960s Thanks to the power of AI I have found out the following information on the Conquest lamp Identification details visible in your photos The embossed “CONQUEST” on the fount (fuel tank) matches Chalwyn’s post-WWII production markings. The top section (wide cap with vent holes under a flared lid) is consistent with the Conquest model, which was a medium-sized cold-blast lantern. The side air tubes are slightly squared at the bends — a detail typical of Chalwyn’s 1950s design evolution. The original globe is missing, but your olive jar fits very closely to the right dimensions — about 3⅛ inch (8 cm) diameter at the base. ️ Historical background Chalwyn introduced the Conquest around the late 1940s as a rugged, general-purpose kerosene lantern for farm, railway, and marine use. It was the British counterpart to the German Feuerhand 276 and the American Dietz Little Wizard, all using the same cold-blast airflow principle. Production continued into the 1960s, after which Chalwyn’s output shifted toward safety lamps and industrial lighting.
I’ve since managed to dig up some more information on the Chalwyn Conquest and thought I’d share it here for anyone else who comes across one. There isn’t much published detail on this particular model, so hopefully this helps to fill in a few gaps in what’s known about Chalwyn’s post-war lantern range. Chalwyn “Conquest” Hurricane Lantern – Information Summary Manufacturer: Chalwyn Ltd., Poole, Dorset, England Model: Conquest Type: Cold-blast paraffin (kerosene) lantern Era: Circa 1950s–early 1960s Identification details Embossed “CONQUEST” on the fount. Usually stamped “CHALWYN – MADE IN ENGLAND” around the base. Characteristic squared bends in the air tubes and a slightly flared vent cap typical of Chalwyn’s post-war production. Original glass: clear, bulged tubular type, approximately 3⅜″ high × 2½″ top × 2⅜″ bottom (interchangeable with Feuerhand 276 / Dietz 76 globes). Background The Conquest was one of Chalwyn’s mid-range cold-blast models, intended for general outdoor, agricultural, and marine use. It appeared in company catalogues alongside the Tropic, Forester, and Far East models. Production likely spanned from the late 1940s through the 1960s, after which Chalwyn focused increasingly on safety and industrial lighting. Structurally and functionally, the Conquest follows the same design principles as the German Feuerhand and American Dietz lanterns of the period — durable, reliable, and engineered to withstand wind and weather. Notes for collectors Replacement globes for Feuerhand 276 / Dietz 76 fit correctly. Preserve the original tin or galvanised finish where possible — the plating is thin and easily lost with over-cleaning. A light coat of clear wax (e.g. Renaissance Wax) helps protect the surface and retain patina. If anyone has period Chalwyn catalogues, advertisements, or paperwork referencing the Conquest, it would be excellent to add them here — this model is seldom documented compared with other Chalwyn types but represents an important stage in British hurricane lantern production.
Hello Floss, Unfortunately, your post contains some serious errors that I would like to correct: It was the British counterpart to the German Feuerhand 276 and the American Dietz Little Wizard, all using the same cold-blast airflow principle. The Feuerhand 276 and the Dietz Little Wizzard are two completely different lanterns and have nothing to do with the Chalwyn Conquest. The Conquest lantern can be compared to the Dietz Junior or the Feuerhand 252. Replacement globes for Feuerhand 276 / Dietz 76 fit correctly. Wrong! You would need a Dietz Junior globe! Chalwyn began manufacturing storm lanterns in 1946 with the “Tropic”, “Pilot” and “Far East” models. I consider the Far East to be the predecessor of the Chalwyn Conquest. That is why I do not believe that the Conquest was already on the market at the end of the 1940s. Kind regards Jörg Have a look here: Early Chalwyn lanterns
