Definitive answer to the hole in the glass conundrum Vapalux Halifax 300

It seems that there have been many debates, certainly assumptions made, about the 'hole in the glass' actually belonging to the earlier pre-1944 (slotted collar) version of the steel tanked Vapalux Halifax 300 (and earlier models) this one RAF..
However, it has been pointed out that there are 'just too many' later versions with the solid colar and 'V' gap (1944 and later) that appear to have an original 'holed glass'
Well I think I might just have stumbled across an advert that clearly shows the later version with an original holed glass 'provenance' would conclude it definitely did come with a holed glass.
Currently on ebay, number: 143539980890 the advert reads:


VINTAGE VAPALUX PRESSURE LAMP

LOOKS TO BE WWII RAF ISSUE !!!

!!! STAMPED 1945 !!!

LAMP IS UNUSED AND HAS NOT BEEN LIT - EVER

HAS BEEN IN STORAGE FOR MANY YEARS -- FIRST 4 PHOTOS SHOW CONDITION AS FOUND, LAST 4 PHOTOS SHOW CONDITION AFTER A LITTLE CLEANING.

THE GLASS IS ORIGINAL AND INTACT, THE HOOD SHOWS A COUPLE OF SMALL RUST SPOTS.

FEELS LIKE THE PUMP WASHER HAS DRIED OUT AND WILL NEED RE-OILING OR REPLACEMENT

A VERY RARE FIND FOR YOUR COLLECTION!

And pictures to prove:

It would appear to be a genuine, never used, never lit 1945 Vapalux Halifax, still with its original transportation packaging and clearly showing the ORIGINAL 'HOLED GLASS' pretty conclusive evidence that this slightly later type was indeed shipped with what has been regarded as 'the wrong glass' for this model. lol....
Interesting
Martin

 

@paparazi

I don't own one of these lamps.

What I do want to say is, congratulations on thinking outside the accepted history box and for putting a strong case forward in correcting the 'accepted history' in regards to these lamps.

 

I've seen this ad a couple of days ago and the same thoughts came up
as Martin has posted. I was wondering that at least until 1945 they used
hole glasses. But were they still drilling holes or did they use old stock?
I'm afraid we will never know.
The guy who offers the lamp seems to know about its rarity, regarding the
price he is asking for.

Matthias

 

I thought Vapalux had gone back to the brass tanks by 1945. This one is steel...
Any thoughts on this?

 

Did a little checking and it seems that W&B moved away from the holed glass by January 1945, so this must have been among the last models with the holed glass. My source was Ian Ashton's fine book on Vapalux and Bialaddin pressure lamps.
I can say this lantern ain't cheap! Dealer sure does know what he has!
Deep pockets will prevail! I've spent my lantern allotment for the year!

 

Damn, these are one hellva confusing lantern! They are all over the map! Wartime, so mix and match. They weren't making collector pieces just one damn good lantern!

 

And that's my point George (Ian's Ashton's Book quoted) does that make it fact? now I haven't read this so for all I know there maybe published evidence to back up this information.
However, say something with authority enough times and it becomes fact, and please understand, I am in no way trying to discredit this or any other book but you get my drift about how supersician can become reality.
What we can say and with reasonable certainty, is that holed glass was fitted to later lamps, not just that they got mixed up when cleaning or replaced with a so called earlier type.

 

Martin

Well, good research practice is all about finding new information, sharing it, and testing it in the public domain.

Your lantern is a good example.

Cheers


Tony

@paparazi

 

@paparazi Right you are, no arguement there. It's like, "What starts out as a favor somehow turns into a requirement!"
Had the same situation at work.

 

W&B may well have supplied the lantern like that and that is typical of them in WW2. Just use what falls to hand. That globe was not designed for the later lanterns and had been replaced by 1945. We know it doesn't work too well with the solid collar lanterns so strictly speaking it can't be right. Problem is those WW2 contract lanterns can't really be defined and there is no right or wrong. It does however show that the factory still had stock of the holed globes in 1945 and fitted them sometimes possibly when there was a supply problem for the solid globe. ::Neil::

 

I think the collar tells the story... Neil is right, the solid collar probably would have restricted the air flow. But then there was a war going on and you used whatever was available or what was coming down the assembly line!
I couldn't get a good look at the collar but finally picked up on it and can see it's a later one. At least we know the holed glass was still available at the end of the war (1945).

 

Interesting thread, apologies for the revival,

A few years ago I bought a new old stock 1949 Bialaddin 300X Air Ministry lantern which came with a nos Pyrex holed glass, still wrapped in some of its original cardboard, possibly not its original glass but I was well pleased as I thought it was just a normal glass, I haven't searched further but it seems as if there a two versions of this glass, one hole being cut/ground out and the other looks to have been melted, the latter being less common in my experience at least anyway?

 

Interesting, I've only ever seen a drilled hole in Vapalux glass