Just aquired this Vapalux 300X. It's all brass and in nice condition apart from the top of the hood which has lost quite a lot of it's enamel. It's also lost quite a lot of the original paint so I'd like to respray it. Were these lamps produced in any other colour apart from maroon? Does anybody know of a reasonably close colour match for the original paint? Cheers, Sid
With that hood and maroon paint with a pressure tit it may be this is not a Vapalux but an early Bialaddin made around 1946-47. Is it marked as Vapalux? I am not sure if or how the early Bialaddins were marked but Ian will know I guess. ::Neil::
Hello Neil, It is marked on he hood "Vapalux Model 300X Made In England" along with a few patent numbers. It's also marked "Vapalux" and "Pyrex Made In England" on the glass. It's an all brass construction so I had presumed it to be a late Vapalux lamp. Sid
OK so a Vapalux for sure then. Yes has to be later. The pressure tit was dropped in 1942 but reinstated around 1945-46 and that multihole hood is also later so I guess it will be from around 1946 ish. Makes little difference though because anyway you look at it they are damn fine lanterns and normally will restore to function very well. ::Neil::
The Vapalux 300x was the first of the W&B lamps to be marketed by Aladdin Industries and did appear in the early part of 1946 as Neil suggested. The maroon colour on the early lamps varied quite a lot, starting with a very dark shade and gradually getting lighter. I guess that is why no one can suggest a good colour match, I should try Halfords, see what they have. By October 1946, the Bialaddin name was being advertised in the form of the 300x. There were a few differences from the Vapalux 300x but the main one was a much slimmer and lighter tank. There are several photos in the reference section which highlight the changes.
Thanks for the info gentlemen, good to know. I did have a trip to halfords a few days ago and they did have a couple of similar colours but they only seemed to be available in metallic or pearlecent which I didn't think was appropriate so decided to go for a change of colour for the time being. I can always repaint it again when I find the right colour. Sid
How about grey? I'm a cheapskate so I sprayed mine with grey primer from poundland and then gave it a topcoat of clear lacquer. It turned out quite nice and was a good match to the original colour: Vapalux 300X
Cheapskate eh? Now you're talking my language Nice lamp you have there. A bit of paint and polish works wonders. Mine is coming along nicely. I'll post a couple of pics when it's finished.
