Looks more like a hot air heating device. This would be mounted on a wall in the vertical position. The spirit cup is there for pre-heating, and the jets would heat the fatter cross tube with the heated air within exuding from the meshed outlet. Where that idea falls down is - where does the fresh air enter? Looks like the fuel would rise up the smaller tube at the back, over and down the centre to be vapourised, and burnt at the jets. The exhaust rising over the heavier top plate and out the fat pipe at one end (the top end). Just a guess.
It's a wall fitting central generator for system lighting and AGM., also made similar units. The image below is from 1915/1916, Jeff.
This image is from 1912/1913 and it shows the CG., fitted to a system. Both of these images were sent to me by Neil.
Well done! So the petroleum spirit is forced into the heater (presumably heated by the same fuel) to produce a gas, mixed with air from the gauzed inlet, and away to the lamps. I wonder if some juggling of controls would be needed to meet the demands. Interesting find - now you need the rest of it!
I wonder how the fuel stayed in a gaseous form? One would think it would cool by the time it reached a second story? Once in gas form it stayed even when cooled? I can see it wouldnt be feasible to light multiple lamp by torch each day. Especially if they were high up, or over chairs or tables or ? Especially in the dark. lol.
