Earlier this year I was lucky to win a Vapalux 1943 with original hood on german Ebay. Basicly I bid just to get that top reflector, as they are not often seen, let alone for sale. In order to improve its looks, the whole lamp was painted in a kind of light blue, perhaps to match it more with the grey-blue enameled top. I gambled this would be a recent job and that the paint could be removed in an acceptable manner. Upon arrival, a careful try out with acetone showed that the fresh paint - not a lacquer - came off rather easy. And, most important, that the original yellow label on the tank, that had been poorly masked, did not dissolve, nor the original grey on the tank that surprisingly was still present for the most part. There must be something singleminded with that old formula of paint, as it seems to resist most paintstrippers too. But I was delighted to see a dead-original lamp emerge from under that 'Luftwaffeblau', so to speak, but I am not sure if I am dealing with that 'Rapidal grey' which seems to be a shade lighter than on this lamp. The darker hue in above pictures is the steel that is simply coated with some engine oil, that also provided the modest lustre I feel is just right. The lamp shows the details as expected, like the Patent number stamped in the lower rim of the cage but what brilliant design was covered by it (same as the E41 frame) eludes me. As opposed to modern made holes, this hole with splintering around it makes it dead original, possibly making this glass a companion of this lamp since they left Halifax a good 76 years ago. I was surprised to find a green Pyrex logo on it, though. The stamping process in the rim from 1943 still made the camera a little shaky today But what it was all about is the hood or top reflector that likely stopped being produced in time with the 300 model as well. I am very pleased with this combination, and it is a keeper.
@M.Meijer WOW!! You must have known I would react to this! My birth year, 1943! I have one exactly like this! Steel tank, too. Yours does not seem to have a pressure tit, mine does and this is what made me wonder if mine had not made a trip back to the maint. depot at some point or a previous owner "swapped" fonts. One really nice E41!!
