Hi all, I took a dive into Vapalux again after already having two 300X lanterns from the past. I havent got any idea when they were made but with their fill cap so huge. Perhaps will get some inputs on their rough dates? I always like the looks of the Pmax, I have no idea why the design is so handsome to look at. But you cant admire the looks when they are lit. Just dont. Thus, I have been eyeing the E41, searching all over for an all brass body if any. If any, i would have to sell all my other lamps just to get one from bay auctions. But I stumbled upon a video of the Lancaster stainless lanterns and the gray steel look really caught my eye. The design however, is not for me. While looking around for Aladdin mantles online, stumbled upon the Austramax stainless.. Well perhaps? Just because they will be kinder to my wallet i guess.. But i was thinking why not just get something I already have parts for or at least not having to search too hard for parts. Stick with Pmax and Vapalux it seems.. It wasn't long till i stumbled upon the E41S. Finally Its strange I don't see any ss Vapalux here. Are there other ss lanterns out there? Lancaster? Austramax?
Vapalux never made a SS lantern in the 1940s. E41s mostly have brass tanks with brass or steel globe cages. The wide filler was military spec and since most lanterns from the 1940s were supplied to the MoD that tends to be what you find on the lanterns now. ::Neil::
I assume this is one of the currently produced Korean Vapalux lamps? Looks nice, could we see a picture of it unlit for a better look at the lamp? I’ve often wondered what they actually look like.
Could guess and say the 300 came on the scene towards the end of 1941. Probably lasted until the end of the war. The 300X came about the end of the war, in 1945. Towards the end of 1946, the Bialaddin 300X came on the market. It lasted until about 1951, when it was replaced by the Bialaddin 305. W&B had an agreement with Aladdin Industries around 1946 until 1968, when they parted company. I'll probably be corrected on this but I gave it try.
The later and current Austramax have stainless steel tanks. I’m not sure off the top of my head when they switched to fully stainless steel tanks, but Nils might know. Cheers Tony @Nils Stephenson
Hi all, perhaps some pics now? images are fuzzy from my phone.. What i do not find a useful redesign is the brass knob
Well it looks good. What I don't underdstand is why make the pump and cap from brass ? Why not also stainless ? If you use ss why print it on the hood again ? I would love to test one by hanging it ouside in the weather to see if it rusts. Does a magnet stick to it ?
That's one thing I didn't know. I have never seen an all stainless tank on an Austramax. The stainless steel base was introduced at the same time as the angular handle (I believe, but am not 100% sure), which I guess was in the early 70s. If there is a fully stainless steel tank Austramax then I'm missing it from my collection.
It does not seem to be interested with magnets. Well, it is stated to be 304 stainless steel. Wouldn't expect a 316L behavior. The cage is screwed onto the tank with brass screws into brass inserts on the tank. The control unit screws into a brass insert on the tank too. There is another place where ss is printed on and the annoyingly hot knob
That knob could get a rubber sleeve over it. It wouldn't look too bad and it might save thumb and fingerprints.
Nice looking one. Stainless steel should last for a long time. Its good enough if its standard 304. 316 or 316L would cost much more. Austenitic ones here I think. I don't stainless steels were used in any old, classic pressure lamps or most other things.
About the middle of the war, say 1943, Vapalux, Tilley, and even Coleman started using stainless steel tanks. However, it didn't last very long and they were back to the brass tanks by 1944/45. Brass was a scarce war material and all sides had better use for brass than lantern tanks/fonts.
Don't know about Coleman but Tilley and Vapalux in the UK never used SS at any time. Tilley started to use steel for lantern tanks in 1938 for the military and continued to do so right through WW2 but at the same time continued to use brass when it was available. Vapalux also used steel for the military but made brass lanterns concurrently. Both companies used mild steel though and added decals to warn that they should not be stored with fuel inside and the tanks should be dried for storage. ::Neil::
I have several late style Austramax's that have "Stainless Steel "Base" but have not seen or heard of full S/S Austramax.
Correct... I was confused. Stainless steel base: not “fully” stainless steel. Cheers Tony @Nils Stephenson @Graham P
And... as usual, the disposable vaporizer will eventually fail on the 3rd light up. They all will share the same fate, be it NOS or new production ones. The kero I get here ain't no vaporizer friendly. Popped in a Taiwanese vaporizer I got extra for my 300X lanterns some time back. Got the disposable vaporizer out last night and inspected the jet wire. Well, it looked crusty enough for me to be convinced that the springs inside are clogged up by now.
