Willis and Bates must have made quite a large batch of these lanterns for the Air Ministry because they are not uncommon. They feature a light green font and black enamel heat deflector. All the examples I have seen carry the AM mark with 21C 2503 and the year mark 1949.
Hiya Ian & all, I've had a Bialddin 300X (AM Ref N.o 21C/ 2503) with the crows foot marker, for a year or so & the paint work didn't show as pale green as yours does here. It was much darker & in dire condition so I brought it back to all brass & I'm just about to re-build it but I've mixed the original stop-cock up, amongst a few other W&B's I own. I remember it had the longer on/off spindle & had the V inlaid in the thumb knob; but as it's a Bialaddin & the collars all stamped (the hood completely blank though), I'm not fully sure which goes on it now, as I stripped it down yonks back ! I have a black thumb toggle/s, which fits on a long spindle stopcock I have here, but it has all the letters of Vapalux spelt out on it. It seems to be right with the V only (on Bakelite red) and I think that's how my other 300X is equip; I'm just unsure as that one was for civilian usage, maybe's no difference though ? I'd rather keep them fitted up as they once were, I'll have a look as I might have that other one listed here in CPL . . . . "Nope" I didn't add it in, I'll have to dig it out to check, but will see if there's any other clues, picture wise here first . . . ? Jon.
They're bloody rare (i.e non-existent) in Great Lumley - they were when you first wrote your piece, Ian, and they still are...
Righto there .. . I had a dig around & found the other 300X I've boxed up, is possibly before the Biladdin 1949 AM of mine; as I was reading some of Ian's info, where it was written that the Vapalux brand was before Aladdin Industries amalgamated in with assistance. This lamp has a wider V plonked on the red knob, but underneath that also, there's the full characters of "VAPALUX" scribed & imprinted. I'd better read through Ian's work more thoroughly, the answer will be there; I just dread hearing that it's all in the collar numerals but I would still be interested to learn when the 300X went into production, AM War Department or civvies, as I've not noticed a lot dated before 1949 ? I'll add my nice new pictures of the 300X AM, after I've re-sized them all (big task ) & looked further into their history; I've an amazing attachment I need to peel through thoroughly (so less silly questions till then ). The red 'V' stopcock knob, is the correct one now fitted, ta. Jon.
My friend's 300x lamp, the bottom of hood cap was engraved a picture of a map, which seems rare. Somebody called it coin dish. Anyone know when production of the products? Can help me to find this lamp cap? Thanks.
These little brass dishes were sold as souvenirs. Your friend's has a map of Cornwall. The one on the top of my 300X has a map of Norfolk. I think I paid 20p for it at a car boot sale. People fit them to lamps as they are the right size and don't look too out of place. Terry
I fitted many of these to older Bialaddin lamps and sold them off at Steam rallies in the 1990s. ::Neil::
