I'm starting to obsess on the desire to own a vintage Aladdin blue flame heater. Since this is a British product, do any of you folks over there have any strong opinions one way or another on the product? I have a source for spare wicks and windows, and they sell for about $50 U.S. plus shipping. Are they effective, or simply a novelty of a bygone era? I should mention that I use an Aladdin lantern with a 23 burner as a space heater on cool evenings. I can keep a room comfortable for 8 hours or more on a pint of fuel by running it low and slow.
Al, they are coming a bit collectable recently ,often seen in the upmarket decor magazines , used as a novelty item to sit in the corner of a summerhouse or similar.prices are rising to reflect this.... Ok for a bit of background heat ,useful for stopping frost in a greenhouse or outhouse ,,,from my experience when indoors they benefit from the lower odor paraffin, Still new unboxed ones coming available,and easy to tidy with a repaint as most used ones seem to be covered with a layer of surface rust. I also use a valor 207 which has less of the 'industrial' look about it.
Mother-in-Law bought one some years back - a Series 15, pale green industrial looking jobbie. She couldn't get to grips with the wick adjuster (arthritis) and so it was little used and remains in its original box in my shed. I used it a couple of times but found it smelt a bit, even though the little Valor Minor on the same fuel didn't. Bit thirsty too. It's taking up space I could use right now. Don't know about 'Vintage', I think she may have bought it in the seventies.
That one is in very good condition Derek . The last one that I had I got for nothing at the local recycling tip. I got it going fine and treated all the rust . I found that it was smelly, thirsty and that the wicks did not last very long, no matter how well the wick was trimmed, even though I had a perfect blue flame ; so gave it away . Steve
Yes, strange about them being smelly. This one's virtually new, no rust or even smoke burns. She had trouble with the wick too, and I sent - and later fitted the new one when she was still living in France. Though the problem was more associated with a less than perfect fit of the metal wick sleeve in its holder. After some time re-shaping and smoothing, the wick adjuster performed better but not one of their best products. Wouldn't part with the Minor though - rust and all!
Thank you all for the anecdotes to help me out. I've also fancied a Valor, but the are as rare as hens teeth over here. Odor is a big issue since high-quality kerosene is very spendy here, and the kero from the pump tends to smell and destroy wicks (even with additive to dry the fuel out). No sense spending money to give myself a headache. I'll stick with my lanterns!
I am pretty sure there are two Aladdin or Aladdinette heaters buried in an obscure corner here. Not seen them for maybe ten years so condition is unknown and I can't remember what models they are but if there is any interest I can have a look and maybe take a photo. I certainly don't want them so if they are still lurking there then they may be collected free to the first guy to come for them. ::Neil::
Al: I have an Aladdin Blue Flame heater, and have used it for years to heat a 10' x 16" enclosed porch area. I like it a lot. I light it and turn it off outside, which cuts down the smell a lot. It only smells on start up and shut down. Paul
Hello Jeff, Yes, the ones that I'm looking at are on the U.S. version of Ebay. The price and condition vary tremendously, but such is the-bay. I like their appearance, and I was just wondering about their performance. As I mentioned, it's nice that there is a supplier of wicks and windows in Oregon. Al
Over here in Holland they pop up every now and then. In various conditions but they sell cheap. As for the smell: besides trimming and wick quality that varies with the fuel used.
Al: The 1950s design of the Aladdin Blue Flame heater is not as powerful as the more modern Kerosun type heaters of the 1980s and later. I have a Kerosun Omni 85, and it is sometimes too much heat for the space. I like the Aladdin for the same reason I like pressure lamps and three legged brass stoves; older technology that still performs it's job well. Google "Miles Stairs" (in Ohio, I think). He carries a great variety of heater and other wicks and related equipment at reasonable prices, with great service. Paul
I love my Aladdinette. Use it to heat smaller areas. Very clean burning; no smell. It uses a 2" burner vs the 3" for bigger one shown above. Requires more maintenance than the modern heaters as the wick can't be burned clean and must be maintained just like an Aladdin mantle lamp wick. I like the retro look. I do agree with Paul however, the modern Kerosun, Toyostove, Toyotomi heaters (although you can only get them second hand as they have long ago gone out of business (Kerosun) or stopped importing into the USA (we are too litigious). They are much cleaner and easier to maintain. I don't think the current crop made in China is anywhere near the quality of the Japanese ones. IMO, this is the pinnacle of kerosene heaters, the Toyotomi Double Clean DC-100. I use it almost daily in the winter. Still available in Japan Link. Interesting to note that they had to redesign the wire guards for the US model (when they did import them) and make them huge as we could not be trusted to not burn our fingers with the standard guard used. They got tired of the lawsuits brought on by people who for some reason decided to use gasoline instead of kerosene with disastrous results of course, and stopped importing them into the US. Used with kerosene, these heaters are basically fool proof. Dan
I love those Aladdin heaters... My parents used to have a Valor one, but pretty much identical in function and heat output.
I have some of the modern heaters, and one sitting in the barn that probably expects to go into my shop next fall. I have a "hot top" Kerosun on the porch right now, and we put a heat-powered fan on top of it to move the air around. I think my affinity to the Aladding Blue Flames is their classic styling, and perhaps their lower heat output. We had a bad year for kerosene/paraffin this year. It completely fouled to wicks on a Handy Hearth, and the odor was horrible. I'd like to burn K30, but the price is just too much.
Now that rings a bell over here too! Our local hardware shop is saying: "can't get paraffin in bulk", yet there's a stash of places that will deliver wholesale. Don't think he want's to pay the prices asked or have any laying around for ages unsold. Stocks pre-packed in 4litre containers now - silly money.
Try your local Allotment Society for draught kerosene at a (fairly) sensible price. I don't suppose they have allotments in the US - no need to since most people seem to have a 'plot' or 'yard' half the size of the Isle of Wight...
Hello David. The draught kerosene is what destroyed my wicks this year. It's common at the petrol stations for many reasons, and is priced at about half of the clear fuel in 2 gallon containers. K30 comes in 55 gallon drums, and the price per gallon is high, and the barrel-related charges add to it. The kerosene from our local refinery has a poor reputation, and we suspect it's because of the crude oil that they use. Another refinery (too far to drive) has a much better reputation. We live in the country, so no allotments here My very small orchard is 2 acres.
After sprucing up the 15, I put some fresh paraffin in and lit up. On the lowest setting maintaining a blue flame, the shed got insufferably hot after 40 minutes - and no foul smell! Most impressed, but a bit of overkill in a shed insulated and 8' x 10'. Looks like it might get a reprieve! I'll keep the original box though!! Yes - allotment societies, thanks for the reminder David I really must seek one out. Currently buying loose at a local garage for £24 for 20 litres (£5.45 per UK gallon). It's Blue.
An amazing day! Cloudy, rain, and I got a late-model Aladdin blue flame (P15) heater for the cost of a tank of petrol! The owner couldn't sell it, and offered it to me if I would pick it up 150 miles to the north. It appears to have only been lit once, and I am quite pleased. Photos will follow when I recover from the long day of driving. Al
It really is in pristine condition, and it only needs a warm soapy wash-down to get some of the old kerosene off of it. I couldn't loosen the burner assembly to take it apart to check the wick and clean the mechanism. Does it simply unscrew counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise) from the body of the fount?
Well, I trimmed the crusty part of the wick with a razor, shaped it with the tool, and it runs like a charm. A touch disappointed that the paint is so fragile that it started to come off when I tried to clean it with alcohol. Photos for your consideration.
Hi Al, If I recall correctly, the burner mechanism is a "bayonet" type location and half a turn aniti-clockwise should get it out. Nice condition heater you have there . Does that version have the "snuffing" safely device This a conical shaped snuffer with linkage to the handle, so if you raise the handle to the vertical postion it lowers the cone and snuffs out the wick, thus preventing it being moved whilst alight. Steve.
I know it's a matter of taste but I just think they are really stylish heaters and of course they do exactly what they say... After a few goes with the "trimmer" you should find the flame gets even less ragged.
Once you tilt the main body and expose the burner, the outer brass ring simply unscrews bayonet fashion. That will expose the wick which is held in two flat metal prongs one each side. Release them and the wick can be lifted out. Very simple. Relative shots from the Operating Instructions. What you need for wick cleaning is the plastic disc that is shaped to get the best wick profile. One more . . .
Thank you all! No, this model does not have a snuffer, so I guess that dates it a bit. I think I'll have to put some penetrating oil around the burner basket to loosen it up. I couldn't move it by hand, and I am afraid that too much force would damage something. I ordered a spare wick from Miles in Oregon, but the trimmer (it came with one) should keep the current wick in good order for some time.
