Kitson KD1 - K.E.L.Co KELITE lamp made in Stamford

Discussion in 'Kitson' started by Clive Metcalfe, Jun 7, 2020.

  1. Clive Metcalfe United Kingdom

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    Hi All, completely new here, I was given this lamp from my late Granddad and was just looking for some info really, what sort of year of manufacture etc. Although its heavily tarnished it looks as though it could have been chrome as there are a few shiny bits showing through the tarnish. Thinking of doing an electric conversion and displaying in my living room but just wanted some info first.

    TIA

    Clive

    IMG_20200607_105234908.jpg IMG_20200607_105238581.jpg IMG_20200607_105234908.jpg IMG_20200607_105238581.jpg IMG_20200607_105243237.jpg IMG_20200607_105254271.jpg
     
  2. podbros

    podbros United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Hello @Clive Metcalfe

    Thank you for posting some pictures of your lovely table lamp. Kelco stands for the Kitson Empire Lighting Co. and is at least 1923 era perhaps even earlier!

    You say it was your Grandfather's lamp, well that must be nice to have such a lovely thing to remember him by... Did he say anything about where he got it from or it's history?

    There are some other Kitson lamps in the Reference Library for you to look at. I hope you will find them as interesting as i do...Kitsons were based in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

    I would ask you to find out as much as you can about you lamp before making any decision to drill any holes, as it is more than likely that your lamp could be made to work as it was meant to?

    The process of electrifying often destroys parts which can't be replaced and can alter the shape and character of a quite unique object.

    There is a lot of information here about suitable cleaning products and methods if you do some searches, hopefully you will be able to restore your Grandfather's lamp to it's former glory!
     
  3. ROBBO55

    ROBBO55 Subscriber

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    Welcome to CPL @Clive Metcalfe

    The model No is KD1 and you can see several in the Reference Gallery Kitson
    It looks complete except for the glass.
    It would be a shame to see it destroyed by drilling holes in it seeing it has survived 90+ years.
     
  4. Jean J

    Jean J Subscriber

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    Please don’t electrify/ruin what could be a lovely lamp. All the guidance and help you need is here on CPL.
     
  5. BigStevie

    BigStevie United Kingdom Subscriber

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    @Clive Metcalfe Hi Clive and welcome from the Scottish Highlands.

    As has been mentioned above, that’s a rare old lamp. It’s good that you have the history with the lamp, so many old objects come to us with no history.
    Converting your lamp to electricity will ensure it comes back into daily life..... getting the lamp running as intended, brings the lamp back to life! As you’ve no doubt detected, the general feeling here is to not electrify.
    I’m sure that if you have a go at bringing it back to life (and if you do decide to do this, there’ll be lots of help from folk here). You might find that the overwhelming sense of achievement, when an old lamp pops into life, will have been very much worth the effort!

    Good luck with the lamp and do keep us all up to date with your restoration.

    Stevie
     
  6. MYN

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    Welcome @Clive Metcalfe
    That's a nice one. Don't electtify it.
    If you intend to light it up, I'd say make it work as originally manufactured as far as possible.
    There are more than enough electric lamps around in the shops that you could easily buy anytime.
     
  7. Matthew92

    Matthew92 Subscriber

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    I’m with everyone that says get it working properly, however I will add that I have one of these and the tank is severely stress cracked. This wont be unique to my example, so you would need to pressure test it before attempting to light it.

    Now, if the tank is cracked and it’s not possible to run the lamp as it was intended then I think you should find a way to electrify it without damage in any way. My suggestion would be a 12v setup with an led bulb so you have a thin wire going up the outside of the stem and then just cable tie the bulb to the burner. You could even feed the wire through the holes below the control wheel up the air tube and out the holes at the top as shown in the pictures below. A standard Aladdin lamp shade will fit and hide the bulb. At least this way if you get bored of looking at it, you can sell it on for a collector to buy and there will be no irreparable damage... Other than stress cracks.:lol:

    Now I’m off to hide, I can hear the locals coming out without their torches and pitch forks to get me.:-$

    image.jpg

    image.jpg
     
  8. Clive Metcalfe United Kingdom

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    Thanks everyone for all the info, so fascinating and I didn't think it was so old.

    Its a really tricky decision about the electrification, its the difference between having it as a usable lamp in my lounge or it sitting in the shed somewhere.

    I'll keep everyone posted on how I get on

    Clive
     
  9. Matthew92

    Matthew92 Subscriber

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    That’s what I was thinking, a lot of these will have been skipped by people in a similar position. You have the desire to use it, so long as it doesn’t get wrecked who knows, you might end up buying a Tilley, then a Vapalux, then a Coleman... You get the idea.:lol:
     
  10. paul m

    paul m Subscriber

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    Or Polish it up and have it as a ornament......like yours Matt
     
  11. Nils Stephenson

    Nils Stephenson Founder Member

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    I don't see any problem with fitting a bulb to a lamp, as long as it is done without drilling holes or similar. It keeps the other half happy and displays a rare lamp that otherwise would have been packed away. Just as long as it can be put back together as a pressure lamp.
     
  12. Clive Metcalfe United Kingdom

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    Right i think i have made a decision, I'm going to make a lamp to mount at the very top through the holes already in the top cap or whatever its called. I'm also not going to polish the lamp or restore it at all, I love the way it looks and the patina could tell 100 years of stories. The lamp holder will be made out of steel which i will age with hydrogen peroxide and salt to give it a rustic
    look.

    IMG_20200608_125954442.jpg
     
  13. Nils Stephenson

    Nils Stephenson Founder Member

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    Sounds good to me. I'm looking forward to more photos.
     
  14. MYN

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    Sounds ok since the modification is reversible.
     
  15. Clive Metcalfe United Kingdom

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    I've finished the modification and i'm really pleased with the result. I hade a mount to take the bulb holder out of brass plate and bolts which fits to the top of the lamp and I aged this with salt and vinegar to match the patina of the rest of the lamp. I Couldn't be happier with the outcome, it will get lots of use now and not be stuffed in a shed somewhere.

    Clive

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    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2020
  16. BigStevie

    BigStevie United Kingdom Subscriber

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    Excellent job! The lamps going to get seen and used, plus you’ve retained it’s integrity. You must be chuffed!
     
  17. Carlsson

    Carlsson Sweden Admin/Founder Member

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    I see three wires, so I assume - and hope - that you have the entire lamp well connected to the ground.
     
  18. MYN

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    Well I'm seeing only two. The switch looks like the familiar two-wire device.
    @Clive Metcalfe ,
    Is the green-yellow coded ground wire present and connected? The lamp's all metal. You're at risk of getting 'electrified' besides the lamp if its not grounded.
     
  19. Clive Metcalfe United Kingdom

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    I think you need SpecSavers! The flex is 3 core 1.5mm2 fully earthed (including the switch) and I swapped out the 13A fuse for a 1A seeing as though its only powering a 9w LED bulb.
     
  20. MYN

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    My eyes are certainly failing me. :shock:
    Yeah, its 3 wires. Glad you had the grounding in order.
    Dang! I could hardly read most of the instructions that come with everything else nowdays.](*,)
     
  21. BigStevie

    BigStevie United Kingdom Subscriber

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    @MYN Ha!i know that feeling! I’m sure they print things smaller these days......
     

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