A Poll: Which lantern would you choose?

Depending on price, I'd have both.

I prefer lanterns and stoves that need fettling as I "collect" for occupational therapy rather than to build up a collection!

To be quite honest, if someone has done a bad job tarting up a lantern or a stove, I'd rather not touch it - at least you don't have that issue with an "original" state item. Also, I'd rather have an original "scruffy" lantern than one that's been stripped and polished (if the original finish was polished metal, that's fine!)

The advantage of an original item is that it's easier to get the colour correct if you need to re-paint it (yes I know the paint ages, but it's better than trying to go by a photo on the internet).

 

Me.

In agreement with what Christer, Matt and expat pointed out above, I like to make my own decisions about restoration. If I bought a lantern with a polished tank that was originally painted, I'd just have to re-spray it. In any case, you've no idea of the quality of the work done by someone else on a refurbished lamp - that shiny vapouriser could be totally choked inside and have an enlarged jet. What material has been used for the seals? - Viton, nitrile, anonymous rubber sheeting, just cardboard or nothing - who knows, it's anyone's guess.

I do have two lamps that I bought polished to ***k, from the same collector who'd obviously done that for the eBay sale. Normally I wouldn't have even considered buying them, far less pay the premium for the polishing, but they are rare lamps so you have to take what you get when you can. I don't particularly enjoy looking at them as they are, tarted-up like two ten-bob whores; something they never were when they left Tilley.

So I'll have the grubby one, thanks, and I'll return it to factory condition or as near as I possibly can. If that's OK with everyone, that is...

 

Oh, for the love of....

I give up. You blokes win.

I can only explain so many times that the poll wasn't about fettled lamps v's grubby unfettled ones. I can only show that I wrote the Aladdins' used were for descriptive purposes so many times. It's simply I haven't got two lamps where one is in excellent condition (unfettled) the other grubby. If I wanted that, I would have put the poll on my previous topic about polished v's unpolished.

This was meant to be an extension of that polishing v's unpolished topic branching into would collectors prefer a well worn lamp looking from it's period to one that has been exceptionally well kept that may not reflect it's actual age.

Having said that your detailed response was worth reading for the context it was given. David your "If that's OK with everyone, that is... " was unnecessary as I said in the original post that I stress there is no right or wrong answer.

I laid awake until 5am thinking about what Rangie said about me being snarky and karma baby. I'm still unsure how it can be perceived that I set out to be snarky to anyone and wasn't until provocation.

Now I know how Picard felt talking with the Borg. It's hard when they use a collective mind.

 

Matty, I was replying to Rangie - I didn't mention either you or Aladdins.

You remind me of one of those little yellow plastic ducks that come round and round on a shooting gallery. (Edit: sentence deleted)

 

That's exactly how I felt when the one liners were being bandied and the collective got together their assault.

Yes, I see it was a mistake by me in regards to whom you posted to. David, it's not paranoia it's from just expecting more of what I'd been given. Blame it on the little sleep.

 

So my thoughts.... Firstly what is highlighted hear is there are a lot of people passionate about lanterns, collecting, fettling etc and I think that's great. without this passion they will become insignificant items slowly fading away into the nothing and with it, the history, workmanship and experience that makes them so special.

Now, I'll choose a lantern for various reasons.
Priority No1- How rare it is both here in New Zealand and in general.
2 - condition, if it's complete and all original, I don't have it already or if it's in better condition than one I do have, degree of corrosion, dents, paint etc. I had a stage where I would buy it regardless but you end up with a bunch of junk normally of common lanterns not even good for parts. (You soon learn to be selective if you are a collector I think)
3 - history, I love to know the history and life behind a lantern. On most occasions if I know the history I tend not to change the lantern at all but just clean it (dust and grime only, clean glass etc, not polish if brass or plated) and a fettle to get it going if need be. If it was shiny when I got it then I'll keep it that way..... You get the drift.
3 - Price
As for this particular basic pole my answer was the untouched lantern based only on, I like to fix shit up....

Keep the passion alive!! 8) :o :o

 

There's no collective, Matty, and no assault. Sometimes we just take the p!ss out of each other a bit. I thought you Aussies were good at that and taking some back in return.

Apologies for part of what I wrote above - I'm going to delete it...

 

Matty opened with:
"Oh, for the love of....

I give up. You blokes win."

There's no competition Matty, if anything it's a crossed sense of humour, the difference between English & Australian. The thing is, if you rise to the bait - you will likely get played! There's no intent stick knives in, but if you feel a jab, ask yourself 'why?'

Aussies are renown for being direct. Brits are renown for subtlety. When the two meet, there's a possibility for misunderstanding. Unfortunately, that can work in favour of subtlety, and the tease is on . . .

If someone was seriously wishing to abuse you, you would know about it, or simply be ignored.

Apart from the 'handle' comments (meant in jest), and that your poll has been voted and commented on, it would seem you have the information required.

I like shiney, but don't like polishing shelf queens. I prefer fixing stuff, and if it looks old - great - it's like me in that respect. As to shabby chic (someone else mentioned that) - no time for it. It's just a deliberate rouse to make things look older and more worn then they are. Fashion rubbish.

My car has been called shabby chic, with it's faded and flaking paint, but I say no - it's just an original rubbish paint job courtesy of Citroen in '75, and it'll stay that way until I win the lottery.

What was the question . . . ?

 

..... can we vote for wickies here ?

 

To All Here.
There's no competition , if anything it's a crossed sense of humour, the difference between English & Australian. The thing is, if you rise to the bait - you will likely get played!
But still looks like you win the first round of cricket .
I've seen these miss understandings in other clubs
every body has a different sense of wording
that's all .On with the lantern and lamp stuff please .
Bob .

 

The grotty one for me, at least you can see it is working.

 

I think I'd choose the unfettled one as the small collection of Lamps I have are used as "working lamps" and not to collect dust on a mantlepiece!
To me as a relative newcomer to pressure lamps it would also be beneficial to bring a Lamp from "bare bones" to the standard YOU want, and having stripped it down you would have a good working knowledge of all the parts and their condition etc. (hopefully that makes sense!)

 

But in your original post you said

You then went on to say

To my mind, "Cleaned up" or "Done up" = fettled. I'm not having a pop here but surley you must see why people are confused about what you are asking them to choose between.

Sid

 

Win what? There is room in this hobby for all persuasions. My personal preference is to do stuff up and fix things. As I can't fit our land rover into our house, I have to settle for fixing smaller things...!

I have a few lamps that I have only serviced to get them working. I just don't find it as fulfilling as a full (or even a partial) restoration.

 

Original condition & unfettled for my preference.

 

Depends how lazy I'm feeling...

If I don't feel like a "project" I'd go for the shiny one. If I felt like doing the work myself I would pick the grubby one, but I certainly wouldn't leave it in that "original condition".