Hi all, This one came to me in a pretty good condition and there was still pressure in the tank when the fuel filler cap was unscrewed. There was some plating loss and a small dent in the base of the fount but otherwise it was all right. This is a ca 1912 Yale Special System lamp made by the Yale Mfg Co, the Colonial/Utility lamp. This was probably the first Yale portable lamp made, except for the low pressure Arc lamps. This is a gasoline fed twin mantle burner lamp of 300 CP. There are some special features on this one. There is unique burner casting on this lamp (looks a bit like the square shouldered casting of Coleman) and the burner caps have also an own design. The generator is nickel plated, which I believe is not so common (I have two lamps with plated generators) and the jet is integrated into the generator top nut that also have male threads for being connected to the burner casting with the mixing tubes. I had to exchange the generator asbestos filling that was full of carbon residue with a new one I made of some asbestos string I’ve got from a fellow collector (I know it’s dangerous stuff and environmental wrong but I want it to be as original as possible. Fired her up, and surprisingly for a 100 years old lady, it was really easy …… without any problem. She runs very silent, with only a low ´hiss´. I really like this lamp and design wise one can se similarities with the model R lamp with that opal dome shade. In the Yale catalogues it was equipped with a fancy slag glass shade. /Conny
This is such a nice looking lamp. I've said it before but I have a leaning towards chrome or nickel plated lamps like this rather than brass ones. I think it's a sign of quality in both lamp and collector.
Thanks Jean, I also like the shine of a nice plated lamp, but I also like the brass finish in lamps. Mind you that nearly all the fancy and design wise fantastic French lamps are all brass. /Conny
Another fine restoration there Conny, your skills as a lamp restorer are second to none, the finest i've seen in a long time....Paul..
Hi Conny, very great looking lamp! I like the decorative "crown" on top of it, in them "good olde days" even a functional item had to look pleasing to the eye too! I do have some questions, the small round 'door' on the burner, I suppose it is there to be able to prick the jet? Clever idea! Also, I see the filling cap with a pressure release screw, but where does one 'pump it up'? Best regards, Wim
That is not a pressure release screw. These are gasoline lamps so should not have such a thing. You pump this one with a cycle type pump and the screw is a needle valve to close off the inlet once it's pumped up. ::Neil::
Hi Neil, so this wing nut is hollow? That's why I mistook it for it merely being a pressure release thingy. The lamps and stoves I have with cycle-type pumps have a short, knurled screw the pump goes on. Thanks for clearing things up! All the best, Wim
No the wing nut is not hollow. It is merely a shut off needle valve between the air intake and the ball type check valve. You open that wing nut a half turn then pump and then close it down again to lock off the air intake. In effect these air intakes have a double check valve. One is automatic with a steel ball and the other is user operated and provides a positive lock off. It operates in the same way that Coleman intake valves do except in a Coleman the needle valve is hollow and is where you locate the end of the pump. These earlier types use a screw connection for the pump and a seperate needle valve. ::Neil::
Hi Neil, thanks foor your info, I can finally see the light now! I learn something new (almost) everyday at CPL & CCS! Best regards, Wim
