I was gifted this Bialaddin 310 today. It had been hanging above a workbench for over 20 years and was still half full of stinking Paraffin. It looks complete, and the glass is intact. The hood has suffered from some damage to the Enamel. The painted tank is a different shade of green to the hood which seems strange, it may have faded down over the years. I've cleaned it up and stripped it down as I am going to purchase a seal kit and mantle for it. Can anyone tell me how to open up the tiny hole in the end of the needle tube? (please see photo) Should I leave the tank as-is or try to find some paint to match the hood?
Nice lantern. Look after that original globe, repro replacements aren't cheap. If turning the control knob doesn't work, it's probably the end of the cleaning needle which has broken off the rest of the wire and is blocking the hole in the vapouriser. A new wire, available from base-camp will do the job. In the meantime, you could try heating the end, then holding the vapouriser vertically, tap it sideways against something solid like a vice.
You have a very nice all original 310 from the first two years of production (1954-56), including (as @Henry Plews said) the correct, original and nowadays rather rare glass. That strange slightly metallic sage green is the correct original colour, only used on this model. It never did match the hood. For comparison- the 310 on the right (dated 1957) showing the original paint: the one on the left('56-'57) has been repainted. An earlier shot of the 310 on the left, showing why it was repainted... again original colour under the flaky black. The paint on yours looks to be in good condition- I personally would't refinish it.
I've managed to open up the tiny hole at the end of the vaporizer tube. Is the end of the needle supposed to protrude through the hole when fully inserted? And is the needle tapered at the tip? Does the needle seen here seem correct?
Idealy, the needle should protrude up to about 0.5mm. According to the patent drawing, the "needle" is not tapered.
