I bought this lamp on 2016, see discussion here: Donut lamp I had to work a lot on the tank because it was completely rotten. I used fiberglass and fuel resistant resins (would see if they are resistant or not) and you can see the result: not very nice because it was too hard to finish with the sandpaper but completely operational and it keeps the pressure very well. For the mixing chamber and nozzle, I took one from a Volcán wich was slightly bigger in diameter but I fixed with two nuts, up and within it. The pricker needle from a petromax 250 fitted well. New copper pipeline, and tried to light it with kerosene. I couldn't. It was very difficult to keep it hot and even liquid kerosene came out from the nozzle toghether with very yellow flames. Perhaps wrong fuel: could it be alcohol? Would see one of the following days. The good thing is that the tank kept the pressur over the night (see pic). Juan
@Juan I presume the pre-heating torch goes in through the small round door just above the reflector. How big was the torch you used to pre-heat the lamp ? If you look at this post from Conny C, Lilor Table/Wall lamp No.1931 you will see an image of the lamp parts, including the pre-heating torch. From memory, the wick part is about 5 cm long and 1 cm diameter. It holds a lot of alcohol and burns for quite some time. Do you think that your lamp would have had a similar torch ? Henry.
Could be a gasoline burner. It has two shut off valves which points to a level of safety you don't see on kero lamps. ::Neil::
Henry: I used for this time a gas torch, so I had enough power but I failed. And I also suppose that the hole is to introduce a torch; just a guess. Ok, Neil, I guess you are right. I'll try with gasoline. Thank you. PS: what's the difference between gasoline and petrol?
@Juan Gasoline is the same as petrol in Australian English; but the word "petrol" can be confusing for people speaking other languages: for example in many countries in Europe "petroleum" means kerosene. I think the Argentinian word for gasoline is nafta. See: International Fuel Names Automobile gasoline might end up clogging your vapouriser (generator) because of the additives, so Coleman fuel or naphtha or equivalent might be better to use. Tony
At the moment, it's the only one of its kind. It was a wreck but you've brought it back to life again. I agree with Tony, excellent ! Henry
Thank you. Still some minor things to do like to repair the reflector, but I'm happy now. I have to find a bigger mantle that don't stretch because I had to keep it working slow limiting the fuel inlet. It is very powerful, perhaps it can do 500 cp.
Thank you very much. Still some minor thing to complete, but I'm happy now. I had to limit the fuel inlet because the supposed 500 cp mantle I used stretched a lot, like a 200 cp mantle; the lamp has much more power to show. I have to look for a better mantle.
Fuuel names are confusing. You also have to be careful with old adverts and catalogues because often the fuel is described as petroleum which at least up to the 1920s could mean kero or gasoline. Good that looking at the design meant I was right about this one. Given the globe size it may be at least 500cp but could be much more. This type of lamp was can be 1000 cp or bigger. ::Neil::
The globe is 20 cm diameter. The one on the lamp now is from an electric light, the only thing I could find; perhaps the glass is too close to the mantle but I have no choice for now. Bigger than a petromax 500 cp.
Last picture. This time I preheated with a torch through the specific hole, with the globe in the right place, as it is supposed for normal operation. Everything went fine, so it is time to start another project.
Juan, you did a very good job here to save this old lady from the junk yard and finally it is up and running again! SUCCESS! But: The pictures show the fuel is pre heated by a torch and when lit kept hot whilst running through the main tube and the pipes right above the mantle. The chimney that encloses the fuel system gets hot as well, so always keep in mind the materials you used to repair the fount. Will the resin withstand the fuel and the heat? Who knows, but if I were you I wouldn't dare to sit on a table with the lamp hanging above my head, I have seen pictures where a leaking Petromax hanging lamp spilled burning fuel and luckily only ruined the inside of a garage, the owner managed to bring himself in safety. Pardon me to be the old killjoy but we all should keep in mind that we deal with old machinery that was never intended to last 50, 60 or 70 years and that may be possibly dangerous because of wear and tear combined with high pressure and easy inflammable fuels. Anyway, it is a great lamp worth to be saved!
Stephan: there is an inner chimney so, you can't touch the external body with the hand but it si not very hot. Even on a petromax with donut tank you can touch the tank while working. I don't see any hazard here but anyway, the resin can resist temperature: many years ago my brother used the same to repair the exaust of a car. I bought a resin suitable for gasoline, but we have to see if it resist. I will not trust on it completely. Finally, I use these very old lamps on the outside, ,as you could see, for the reason you explained. Best regards. Juan
