Surveying the scene in our spare bedroom/junk room, I decided that it was time for a sort out. With the good lady being away this week, I could spread out without any nagging. Having covered the lounge carpet, I carried in ten boxes of 'bitza', plus assorted oddments off shelves etc. This was around two years worth of scavenging. The sort that can be picked up for a pound or two at car boot sales, markets, country shows and auto jumbles - incomplete lamps, basket cases, biscuit tins full of unidentified parts, rust buckets, bent and twisted lamps that look as if a cow has sat on them. The sort of stuff that generates "now what rubbish have you bought?". Being more of a stovie than a lampie and unable to resist a bargain, the collection of treasures has steadily grown. Over the course of the next two evenings, I was able to assemble a surprising number of lamps. Some are missing glass but replacements are not difficult to source. Although complete, they are only loosely assembled. Some may not have the correct hoods, but will make good user lamps. All need fettling, which will keep me occupied this winter: I am particularly pleased with the 1943 Vapalux 300 assembled from a couple of junkers. I remember finding the rare glass with hole at a car boot sale for 10p "dunno what it's for mate": I'm now down to two boxes of bits. Just got to find somewhere to put the lamps. Then I can start on the pile of boxes containing stove bitza . Terry
Jeese ! some people just fall in Shhh, Mud, and come up smelling of Roses eh awesome score that Terry
Green with envy ! Every time I go somewhere like the local car boot at Polegate I rarely find any pressure lanterns but there seems to be a plethora of camping gaz! (you must have got there before me!) (incidentally, all our scout groups are now regular visitors to clayhill for cheap kerosene so thanks for the tip!)
There are reproductions available if I'm not mistaken Jeff. Seen a few on the 'bay made right in the UK if memory serves.
