I have recently purchased what I believe is a very early Vapalux 300 lamp in chocolate brown with matching reflector, it has the following features: Brass tank Pressure indicating pip Hood just embossed Vapalux Halifax with no crows foot or year stamp. Would be interested to know just how early this lamp is? Also I am looking for the correct glass for this lamp, the one with a lighting hole, can anyone here help? Not planning to over restore this lamp due to it's generally good condition, just a good clean up now that it's fettled and working well.
According to the Works diary, that chocolate brown paint was introduced in 1944, along with a cream colour; both to run alongside the Rapidal Grey hitherto available. I can't remember exactly when in 1944 - maybe June/July? - but the exact date is given in one of Ian Ashton's posts (maybe his very first one, if memory serves)... Edit: See here:- Vapalux 300 - steel tank... 4th July 1944 - not sure which shift it was, though...
Another nice lamp. Don’t let it get too close to your Bialaddin or you’ll soon have many lamps to care for
Your Vapalux has the correct globe. The globe with lighting hole was only used on the lanterns with a slotted collar. On solid collar lanterns the draught from the lighting hole blows the pre heat flame away from the vaporiser which makes for poor preheat and starting problems.
Yes, I think that these lanterns will have only one way to create a draught-free 'curtain' of incoming air for priming - either a slotted collar OR a perforated baseplate but not both and not neither. A triangular holed collar with a priming cup and a globe with a hole wouldn't be conducive to a good preheat because draughts would be likely to blow the flames away from the vapouriser and burner...
My lamp is fitted with the triangular collar and only has a priming cup not a perforated baseplate, not had any bother priming it yet but not tried to light it in windy conditions. At least one other in this gallery has the same combination o triangular collar and priming cup, is it possible this is a transition variant which resulted in the perforated baseplate being developed to stabilise the priming flame? Will upload a picture of this area of the lamp next weekend as I am working away all week, it's a lovely lamp and I have no reason to believe it's not original. Yet another variant to find for my collection, a Vaoalux 300 original version with slotted collar
It's far more likely this is a military 'bitsa' or someone's just replaced the original preheater. I wouldn't be concerned about it - it IS a lovely lantern... (Y)
