Hi all, I got this lamp wreck from England a couple of weeks ago and my initial feeling was not to get involve, not very keen in restoring that one. But this is a rather rare lamp, not seen many, so I thought of having a go and at least trying to get her fired up. After a thorough overall clean up, I hade to re-solder the fount to the fuel feed tube, getting a new cleaning needle (used one from another burner wreck) as well as a generator restoration with a new generator stuffing (a rolled steel wire mesh). I had also to find a knob for the positive shut off valve. Assembled all the parts and fired her up and …….ooooops… it worked well. This is a torch lighting Nulite 210 lamp of 400 CP from the late teens or early 20,s. The 199 embossed opal shade was the original one – see catalogue image from Neil (I believe most of the survivors are in the hands of collectors) - for the 210 lamp, but I found a good plain opal shade that is OK. Turned out to be a good working lamp although it will rest on my shelf now ( not sure I did a good soldering job ) /Conny OK then, a couple of befores......... The Nulite 210 has a similar fount as several other lamps from other makers at that time; as the 121 Utility lamp from Akron and also a Nagel Chase lamp made for Montgomery & Ward - the Superlite lamp (see image below).
Thanks Jeff! For sure I couldn´t see that coming after my first view of the wreck. Quite surprised, but it always seems to come together in the end, with bits and pieces and shades you seemed to have stored somewhere. /Conny
That's a nice one Conny! And as usual you've done a brilliant work. Original is always worth wanting, but aesthetically I think your plain shade looks much better than the original one. I'm no fan of those fancy things some manufacturers placed on their lamps during some periods. They were way too elaborated. Some were actually really hideous. A plain one is timeless and always right, even if not correct. By the way... are you really sure that wick lamps are your main interest?
Thanks Christer, I agree that often the opal plain shades are the most desirable in most lamps, but as a "former" wickie I believe there are exceptions. After yesterdays reading of the "wicke crap" thread I’m not sure of what I am. For sure the pressure lamps (and for my sake - the odd pressure lamps -) are the most interesting lamps to gain interest in and restore/collect. But also the wick mantle burner lamps from the early 20th century (Anton Kaim has written a fantastic interesting survey of all the wick mantle burners known and are just now translating it to English) are very interesting as are the vapour lamps from that same period. I believe that interest in fuel fed lamps may bring us together, not taking sides against each other. /Conny
Stick with the wick, you know it makes sense To be honest I just like all old lamps, it's just great to see them restored and working again.
Thanks for that advise Gneiss, but I know Christer just want to tease me as a "former" wickie”. I have for six years now restored and collected "the real thing"(as some would say) - pressure lamps - and I have to admit it is a great fun. Gravity lamps are still of interest and I continue to make posts on wick lamps/burners on the German lamp forums. I think the CPL is a great forum and I would like it to stick to the original plan as a forum for”Pressure Lamps". I think a vacuum was created when the BBL forum went down; especially for persons interested in wick and mantle lamps. I know that this had been directed off topic (Nulite 210 lamp), maybe my fault, but I was a bit saddened reading the thread of great members being in conflict knowing their love for the interest we share – the fuel fed lamps! /Conny
You do very fine work Conny, and set a great example for others to follow. I always enjoy reading your posts.
Indeed a very nice restoration,Conny. I'm a fan of Nulite and Akron lamps and this early torch light is a fine example. Your plain opal shade looks great and is quite appropriate as Nulite did offer the same type of plain shade, model 299, which can be seen in earlier catalogs on their wall, pendant and chandelier lamps. I have not found an image of a 210 with the 299 shade. If you have source for this shade, I could use one for one of my Nulites which I'm restoring. I was actually thinking of cutting a round 8" GWTW shade in half if nothing turned up, although it's shape would be wrong. Dan
Thanks Dan, I also like many of the American non-Coleman lamps, Akron, Nagel Chase, Nulite and others and they are a lot of fun restoring. The plain opal shade on this lamp I bought hoping it would fit my lamp, but eventually it was a couple of millimetres too wide. Just pure luck it now fitted this 210 Nulite lamp, and I’m sorry no more easy source of shades for this type of lamp. A cut half 8 inch opal ball shade may be appropriate for this lamp. Please let us know if you follow through and test that, how well it will fit. /Conny
A lot of non Coleman lamps are good to fettle but I am not a big fan of Akron because far to many have stress cracked tanks and or feed tubes. These small Nulite lamps are neat and work well. ::Neil::
Well done Conny Your restoration/breakdown of the burner was a great help in getting my Nulite/Sunshine safety lamp up & running , many thanks for a great post 8) http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/6350 Stu .
