I was going to buy one of these,but opted for the candle lanterns from Bushlite.I wish i had bought the hurricane lamp now,as the Candle lanterns are seriously dangerous in a tent.I went with all the candle lantern safety hype,and found when picking it up by the handle,the top half would just slip from the bottom half 7 times out of 10.
------------- Boris Karloff: '' now will you give me my chalk!? ''
My Tents:
Eureka K2 XT
Terra Nova Solar 2
Outwell Jersey S Pop Up Tent
Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe.
i beleive the best light of this type is vapaluxlantern m320 made by WILLIS N BATES LTD> pellon works, resevoir rd halifax hx20es. ihave used these for years .as a soldier n after . probably one of the brightest lights of lts kind but can be wound down to nothing. i think still used by NATO. buy british . you know it makes sense!
There's a big difference between one of these and a Vapalux!
I've got a *small* collection of lamps - one of these days I'll sort them out and put the photos on the web. The small hurricane lamps don't give out a massive amount of light, but are quite useable. One suggestion by the way, which we used to use on the boat*, is to add a few drops of citronella oil to the paraffin. I prefer that to using bought citronella lamp oil (which seems lacking in citronella to me).
If you want to keep the smoke to a minimum use decent lamp oil instead of paraffin (although I tend to use the latter in my pressure lamps), trim the wick and most importantly don't turn it up too high.
*The pride of my wick lamps is a very plain burner (as it's from the inside of a mast-head lamp on a ship) with the mpost exquisite patent duplex (two wick) burner. That certainly gives out plenty of light!
I have just refurbed a 1952 Bialaddin 300X, there is quite a long post on here which includes my exploits, I know it is a very different beast to a Hurricane lamp, as it is uses pressure, but what a light, even in this modern day, there is nothing quite like it, I got the lamp for nowt, although I did spend £35 bringing it back to perfect working order, as you can still get all the spares, I run it on "Paraffin Extra" which at £1.14 per Litre is a little more expensive than regular "Paraffin", the benifit is that there is virtually no odur, compared to the heavey smell you get from normal "Paraffin". hope that helps.
hi francais, the vapalux is similiar. but last one i bought new was possibly less than your referbishment,never mind you have a good light. willis n bates are good for spares , i also have a very old one as well my favourite.yes not quite a hurricane light but worth knowing about, my first came from a charity shop for 10p. nice one.
I did read your exploits Francais! I must admit that I've never had to refurb any of my collection to quite that extent - new washers and seals generally - except for a brass bodied Tilley that had to be braised up.
I do agree about the light output - although I can sort of beat it with a 500cp genuine Petromax! Actually I did work out that my collection would give around 2500cp if I lit all the pressure lamps. It was a working collection until quite recently as the Churhc I attend didn;t have electricity until last year. Midnight services lit with just candles and pressure lamps were very special (but the electric is easier).
hi glen glad i am not the only sad person around . ha, ha, we could set up a light forum. i alsohave a large collection of camping stoves ,tents etc. i got it bad. cant get rid only buy except more. older the better..their coming to take me away ,ha,ha.
I think the Vapalux are around £120 new these days, Bairstow Brothers who make them are up for sale, there is a letter on the web-site from the MD explaining the situation, thanks glen_p, "Base Camp" have been my supplier for all the parts I required for the refurb, I had never come accross a pressure lamp before, untill I was given the 300X, and the folk at "Base-Camp" guided me all the way, and always sent me the parts I needed, and cancelled the parts that I did not need, superb service. not sure if the lamp will get used in anger, life is just so easy with all these modern day LED afairs, my mrs has thoughts of me setting the campsite alight if I take the 300X with us to France, although I do think it has to be done!.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Anyone still use these?
