I got this lamp a few years ago now and it is quite a challange see the pictures of it when it was found. There was no steel shafts to control the burner so i rebuilt them some time ago but done nothing since so seeing there is no posts in this section i thought i would make a start and try and document it as i go maybe some may have a bit that i need and donate it if so i can skip that bit just take the picture. This will be a long running post as i go along here is what i have and a picture of how it should i cannot make it any worst thats for sure. The peice i am on with now is the brass cowling on top of the top shade all these parts were metal spun so not available now unless you have a donor lamp or maybe try knock one up in the garage eh. This is the lamp and a illustrstion of what it should be like you can see i aint got a lot I had these ones to copy off the wall lamp so i could measure the cowling up and do a little drawing. Right first off i made a cylinder of brass and silver solder the join the diameter was same as the narrow waist times pie for the cicumference height i cut big so i can trim down later. After making a simple cylinder formed or bent round a svea 123 would you believe (nearly right size) i heated it up as hot as i could with a big propane torch and quenched in water a couple times this softens the brass makes it easier to form. I then put a steel bar in the vice and commenced to pummel it to shape to flare it to the bigger diameter both ends, this took some time and required heat quench a good few occassions so i have the basic shape, now the top flange is a big 90degree bend with a edge and flattened rim i decided to make this separate and solder it on later. First i cut the circle out spun the edge in a jinny this is a old sheet metal workers tool then took it right over with the mallet Next i turned a little edge on the jinny to stiffen the cylinder cut the inner diameter circle out of the one i just made and prepared it for soldering Now silver solder the two together and file the inside diameter till flush big cleanup and i am well pleased with the progress so far downside it turned out 1/16 small in the top dia but since i am making the top cowl it dont matter I will carry on with this piece as time becomes available it needs a slot for the fuel pipe and the holes in but its well on its way is this now cheers pete
Well had bit of time tonight so thought would get this cowl finished so i have the shape and need the holes and slot for the pipe. I did all the marking from the top edge as this is important as the bottom has to be cut off anyway I used a felt tip for the marking my eyes are not as good as i would wish them to be but would be better to use a scriber really, well all holes drilled and the slot cut out with tinsnips and a file dont look too bad Now just mark up and trim the bottom with snips i dont intend to curl the bottom edge in as there is nothing for this to clip onto on the enamel shade unlike indoor lamps well thats this bit done really i intend to give it a good rub with wet and dry to remove the hammer marks then polish it up a bit. I reckon it looks ok and will improve the lamp i have yes its not a original piece but will suffice until i manage to get one maybe. Now a question does anyone find stuff like this of intrest or any ideas i can improve on it cheers pete
Definitely of interest. I might not have a Blanchard, but the idea could be useful for something else. It's always good to see a lamp brought back from the dead.
Well thanks for your intrest in this, these type long posts are not so easy but long as they may be useful i will carry on, Now i need a top cowl and its quite a complex shape to create with a hammer as metal will only do so much so once again its got to be in two piece construction silver soldered up like before. I am lucky as i have something to copy here i would have had a go with pictures but it would have been so much harder and the hours it takes to produce something like this and get it wrong would be a real downer. Okay i want the top cowl top cone first so i got the taper with a template maker think i got this at B&Q anyone know it? Put the marks on the paper so i could draw the shape i need on some metal with a set of compasses, i made sure it was plenty big so as i could trim down later. Once the bend is marked out i cut with tinsnips and formed the cone round a bar something like I then made a best guess as to the lengh and trim when i felt confident i had it right by jamming it into the cowl i was copying Once i thought it was ok i silver soldered the cone up with a hard grade solder bit higher melt point than i usually use which is easy flo lower melt point which i would use later but i dont want this one to come apart do i !! After soldering i heat and quench a few times to sofen the brass the hammered the piece to round the top and flare the bottom out until i had it something like the shape required as you can see its taking shape now i will continue in another post need a break
Right next its the turn of the large flange taper which i intended to solder onto this cone, so its a simple circle with a hole cut in which i bash roughly to shape on a lump of wood with a dent ground out with a angle grinder Once its something like i cut the middle out then beat it on a steel plate with the hammer to tidy it up and solder onto the top cone Once solder together a tidy up and some more beating until i am happy with the result and the file\grind or whatever to blend the tapers together. A flapwheel and this scratch brush in a drill in the vice worked great Now it needs to be fitted to the bottom cowl so a bit of trimming then turn the edge over in the jinny. A small edge like this could be taken over on a iron bar or even pliers then tidied up later. Ok nearley there so mark and drill the holes for the pricker control and meths filler file then out was not very happy about these but there ok Then big cleanup with the drill and scratchbrush and try it on the lamp!! Good job it fits and i think it looks ok the lamp does look more of a lamp now and much better than it was, next i will try to repair the reflector but its well rusted so not sure of a plan yet, these pieces were very much a lot of guesswork and patience and i am pretty good with a hammer 40 years ago now i spent day after day beating copper and if you messed up you got a slap in them days so you learnt pretty quick dont think apprentices have that to put up with now. cheers pete
Thanks Nils yes i am pleased with it so far think i would have used a bit thinner brass if i did it again but i just used what i had, there is a inner cone to do yet inside these two but will go back to that one later think its this rusty reflectors turn next glad you find it intresting cheers pete
Nice work Pete, any ideas on the reflector. Are you considering fabricating a new one and if so how would you go about the enamelling.
Thanks Den yes i think i may try to make this small reflector so many holes in the original one, then of course i need a large one too so see what happens long way to go with this lamp but no rush too cold in garage at moment for sure. I wont be enamelling costs too much with be a paint can finish i should think cheers pete
Thanks Jeff will get on with the next bit when it warms up a bit far too cold to be in garage at moment cheers pete
Hi Pete, I have some brand new Blanchard top inner cone's in the shed, i am sure i can find you one. They would not be that easy to make. Re inner and outer Blanchard Reflectors i have some hear, a lot better than what you have. I will sort them out for you and try and find a pair that are a good match. Cheers Jim
Hi Pete, gratulation to your work. I had it much easier with my BLANCHARD, I got a new one in unused condition. If I can help you, with anything, let me know Karli
Hi karli, That is a very nice Blanchard model 1307 you have there, in new unused condition. You should post photo's of it on the Blanchard page in the Great Britain section of The Lamp Reference Gallery on this site. cheers Jim
Hi Pete, thats just fantastic workmanship well done i will have two please i see mick has been teaching you anyway very well done,, is this a indoor model or outdoot? cheers kenny...
Thanks kenny these brass cowls went on all the indoor blanchards the green enamel ones in the outdoor Me and mick both started in similar trades coppersmith myself silver smith mick both use techniques that are very similar that is metal in one hand hammer in the other, sounds bit rough but the skill is knowing how to hit to do any good !! pete
Hi Pete, A couple of photo's of the inner Blanchard reflector's I have in the shed, any one is a bit better than the one you have at the moment I will sort you one out. cheers Jim
Thats great jim they are all better than what i have here do you have any of the outer ones ? thanks pete
Hi Pete, Yes i have a few outer Blanchard reflector's, I will try and find one that is a good match with an inner one, as you will find they can distort over many years of use, and it is important to get a good fit between the two reflector's if you can. More so when your using the lamp outside. This is a photo of a pair of brand new Blanchard inner reflector's you might like to see, I won't be parting with them i have a couple of new Blanchard burners to go in them, once I have assembled the burners that is. cheers Jim View attachment 13006
Nice to see they have survived like that jim wont be many around like that these days look good on my lamp tho!! just noticed the primus reflectors paul has posted they look the same colour green nearly must have been a favourite for lamp reflectors pete
Hi Jim nice clean new reflectors ..but where is the lamps ??still waiting for you to get that roof fixed i know the weather has been bad but i want to see some pic..hope the weather gets better for you so you can get your hammer out kenny..
Hi Kenny, Yes i am sorry for the delay in posting photo's of my Blanchards, but you would not belive the amout of bad weather we have had hear. I managed to make temp repair to shed roof just before It snowed, before Christmas. I hope to post photo's very soon. Jim
Very exciting. For restoration and repair of your Blanchard. Have the skills and commitment. Respected actually
