Ca. 1910 Allen-Sparks Giant Portable Stand Lamp

Discussion in 'Other Brands' started by Conny C, May 26, 2016.

  1. Conny C

    Conny C Sweden Subscriber

    Offline
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2010
    Messages:
    879
    Hi all,

    First seeing this rare lamp I wanted it, regardless of the poor condition it seemed to be in. I knew it would be difficult bringing it back to life and it was a tough beast to conquer. The whole lamp seemed to be painted with a sticky black, oily, greasy "something", or was it just indescribably dirty? My hope of getting a shiny nickel finish back was long gone and after the first try of cleaning the lamp I nearly gave up when I detected seven small stress cracks and one big "gap" crack on top of the fount. Adding to that negative side was that the fuel pipe joint was split with several cracks. Disassembling the lamp showed however something positive, when discovering that the burner parts were all there, including a functioning cleaning needle unit. Decided first to try an epoxy lining of the fount with Restom (a French tank sealer). It was successful and with the fuel pipe joint fixed I did a pressure test, which was OK. Made a generator restoration with a new asbestos string inserted and assembled all the parts and the lamp was firing up on the first try.

    This is the ca. 1910 Allen Sparks Giant Portable stand lamp Nr. 83, made by Allen-Sparks Gas Light Co., Lancing Michigan. This lamp is a torch lit gasoline lamp with a light output of 200-500 CP. The lamp was invented by M.F. Sparks with the tip cleaner device constructed by an officer of the company R.A. Astley. That same Astley will a couple of years later make a new stand lamp for the Allen-Sparks company ; the Astley Parlour Lamp. This Giant lamp is equipped with an opal white globe shade, often referred to as the No.289 Alba globe shade also by other manufacturers. Seems to be a plain standard opal globe shade at that time. Nice and well built lamp with a simple and well functioning burner unit. Not many of these around, I recon. Please note the burner cap, probable made early Monday morning by a worker with a severe hangover :)

    /Conny

    1464281824-Giant_portable_lamp.jpg 1464281850-Giant_portable_lamp_lit_mantle.jpg 1464281864-Giant_portable_lamp_lit.jpg 1464281884-Giant_portable_lamp_parts.jpg 1464282054-Giant_portable_lamp_fuel_filler_and_pump_cap_control.jpg 1464282073-Giant_portable_lamp_fuel_control_valve.jpg 1464282098-Giant_portable_lamp_burner_parts_2.jpg 1464282120-Giant_portable_lamp_burner_parts_1.jpg 1464282139-Giant_portable_lamp_jet_and_cleaning_needle.jpg 1464282165-Giant_portable_lamp_burner_and_cowl_from_above.jpg 1464282243-Giant_portable_lamp_cleaning_needle__jet_and_mixing_tube_outside_cowl.jpg 1464282184-Giant_portable_lamp_flame_spreader.jpg 1464282277-Giant_portable_lamp_cowl_logo_shield.jpg 1464282310-Giant_portable_lamp_unlit_mantle.jpg 1464282371-Giant_portable_lamp_Bunsen_flame.jpg 1464282392-Giant_portable_lamp_upper_part.jpg

    Some "before" shots.... 1464282454-Giant_portable_lamp_before_1.jpg 1464282478-Giant_portable_lamp_before_2.jpg

    ...1910 catalogue pages from Allen Sparks no. 70 (Neil McRae)........ 1464282548-Giant_portable_lamp_910_catalogue_images.jpg
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2017
  2. JEFF JOHNSON

    JEFF JOHNSON United Kingdom Subscriber

    Offline
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2010
    Messages:
    15,013
    Location:
    Shetland Islands UK..
    It's a grand old lamp once again Conny! :thumbup: :D/ :clap: :D/ :clap: :thumbup:
     
  3. Conny C

    Conny C Sweden Subscriber

    Offline
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2010
    Messages:
    879
    Thanks Jeff! Will probably remain as a shelf queen, the rest of her life
     
  4. John

    John United States Subscriber

    Offline
    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2011
    Messages:
    770
    Location:
    Dallas, Texas; United States
    Beautiful restoration Conny, perhaps the gunk protected the lamp for all these years until it could get to your hands.
     
  5. Matty

    Offline
    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Messages:
    2,586
    Location:
    Queensland, Australia
    It's a wonderful lamp and as always, well presented Conny.

    I saw this lamp and wanted it. At the time I had made several large purchases and this lamp with the shipping costs to Australia simply came up at the wrong time for me.

    It's in much safer hands as it turns out.
     
  6. Michel

    Michel Subscriber

    Offline
    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    1,371
    Location:
    56 France
    hum, nice one
     
  7. Matty

    Offline
    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Messages:
    2,586
    Location:
    Queensland, Australia
    I know of another collector still kicking himself he didn't "Go higher"
     

Share This Page