Hi, I just found this lamp at a local fleemarked, it´s a Feuerhand 305 converted to carbide gas, I have never seen such a lamp before. Is there any of you who can tell me something about it. It´s converted by a danish firm called Brødrene Dahl A/S and the work seems quite professional. The lamp is in good condition and doesn´t seem to have been used very much. I payed less than 7 euros for it. Regards Niels Chr.
Congratulation with your nice find Niels, what a rare beast. I have seen some carbide-lamps but never anything like the honourable Feuerhand in a carbide-edition. The danes and the swedes made the guidelines for approving carbide-constructions together if I recall Nils Stephensons and Christer's information correct. Its a awesome nice lamp and it is nice to see better more comprehensive Photos of it here. Well-saved Claus C
I think it's this information I posted in another topic a while ago you are referring to. The Norwegians made similar guidelines later on. Niels, does your lamp have any sign of approval? If it was professionally made and meant to be sold to the public, it should have a small, oval tag saying "Godkendt". These tags could of course fall off over time if they were badly soldered to the lamps. Some pics with the glass removed would be nice, thanks.
Thanks Christer, that was the topic I ment. How is the bottom chamber, for the carbide-convertion, attached to the upper part wherefrom the dripping Water comes . I can see a rubberseal but no coil for screwing the chamber air- and pressuretight together with. How does it become gas-tight? Shouldnt it be possible to use any type of carbide burner on any carbidelamp if there is room for it? Is it an old police-lamp (Politi ) Do you know any of its history? Claus C
Hi Yes, there is a small oval metal sign at the base of the carbide tank, it is somewhat corroded but I can see a crown symbol and the word GODKENDT. The carbide tank/canister is screwed onto the buttom part of the carbide jet. The carbide tank is sealed with a rubberseal between the edge of the tanke and the lower side of the original kerosine tank (now the water-tank) I will try to upload some more pictures 8) Regards Niels Chr.
More photos of my Feuerhand 305 Carbide The left photo showes the carbide tank and on the base plate with "Brødrene Dahl" printet on, a rubberseal with the same diametre as the carbide tank can be seen. The small plate with a spring on it, is ment to hold the carbide away form the center of the tank (according to Claus 8) ).
I have corresponded previously with some German guys who are keen Feuerhand and Frowo hurricane lantern collectors following my realisation I had an interesting couple of very old (1920) models. The two companies were in the same town and competed. Later one went to the west and one stayed in the east. They have kindly offered further insight into some carbide conversions that occurred during WW2. Basically in Germany parrafin/kero was not available to the public and was kept for the military. However carbide was freely available and often Feuerhand models 305, 201 and 175 were converted. They added that Belgian 'Wilba' lanterns were also converted. Hope this adds to the information already provided about the carbide standards.
Hi Iain - very interesting reading. My knowledge on carbidelamps is very sparse and this converted FH 305 is my first. As mentioned it is cornverted by the danish firm "Brødrene Dahl A/S". I´m in the process of refurbishing the lamp and during the process this this little brass tag appeared. It says GODKENDT (approved) S.A.U. but I can´t find any information on S.A.U. Regards Niels Chr.
What an interesting lantern! I've never seen this type before. Only the Justrite carbide types. Fascinating that they converted kerosene lamps.
Firstly a correction, my above post should have read “in Germany and the countries it occupied during the War…”. Lantern enthusiast, Jorg Wekenmann, stated this in his earlier correspondence to me but I omitted this important distinction in my previous post. This broader prohibition clearly had a greater effect, such as for the Belgians, where ‘Wilba’ lanterns were also converted to carbide. Photo of Belgian Wilba Lantern adapted for carbide. Jorg has kindly written the following: “Concerning your answer on the CPL forum I would like to mention that kerosene / paraffin oil was forbidden for private use not only in Germany but in all of the Germany occupied countries too! In my archive I have copies from the so called export reports from the Hermann Nier company. These export reports were sent from the main dealers all over Europe to the main office at Beierfeld. There you can read that the interdiction to use kerosene for private use are rising. I don't know what S.A.U. could mean, maybe it was a Danish company? The conversion of this lamp (the FH305 – Iain) is made perfect, that's not made by an amateur! Maybe we should search a Danish mining company or a Danish company which had experience with carbide lamps. Another FH305 Converted for Carbide The conversion the FH 201 and FH 175 was not made by the Nier company itself but by the companies: Hermann Riemann, Chemnitz Frowo, Zwickau These two companies produced either bicycle carbide lamps (Riemann) or mining carbide lamps (Friwo). The Nier company produced the upper parts only and sent them to these two companies which made the conversion to a carbide lamp.” The attached photos show you the carbide lamp which was produced by the Nier company itself between 1913 and 1921. The Feuerhand carbide lantern was sold under the name, D. R. Patent Feuerhand or Nr. 301 I thank Jorg Wekenmann for his very kind and informative input into this discussion and for his excellent photos.
There are a few more photos to add but I am having some technical issues so will attach them as soon as I can. apologies.
About the sign carrying the Crown, stamped "Godkendt S.A.U.": Godkendt means approved and a guess is that the S.A.U. starts with S--tates A--uthorized and the U--? In Danish that would be: Stats Autoriseret It is probably a Company/unit from the Danish state or approved by the state, which were allowed to approve conversions to be allowed for sale. The last lamp above look really like Niels's 305 in then chosen solution. Claus C
As stated before I had some technical issues getting the remaining photos that were sent to me presented. So I am copying the last bit of my previous post and adding the photos. Hope this is OK. FH 301 Again, Thanks to Mr Wekenmann for the photos and information. Iain Sedgman
Interresting information Iain, and Claus, the above FH305 conversion seems identical to my FH305. I can see the little oval brass tag but it would be interresting to know what is typed onto it, and also what it says on the base of the lamp. Regards Niels Chr.
Hi - Latest news - it runs I have just recieved a new jet, and of course I had to test i at once. I´m not quite familiar with the ajustment of water, so when I lighted it, a 15 cm blue flame appeared but it died out just as fast as it came. Then the lamp ran smoothly for almost an hour 8) Regards Niels Chr.
You made a stunning transformation on this one Niels Chr. Welldone on this rare piece. Its not often to se a blue shade at all and that makes just this one even more adoreable. Thanks for sharing. Claus C
I found the lantern the other day it's missing the bottom part I'm wondering if it was also once converted to carbide Agostino
