My new lamp

MooseMan · My new lamp

...arrived a couple of days ago, and I've now set it up - it's an Aladdin #12 incandescent mantle paraffin (kerosene) lamp, from about 1930, and I absolutely love it...unlike wick based lamps and pressure lamps it is absolutely silent, odourless and smokeless, doesn't chug out carbon monoxide like gas lamps, and it gives off a lovely heat as well. At full tilt, it's about as bright as a 60w bulb....in this picture it's turned way down.

johnreid

Those are great lamps, I love mine.

Andy

well done mate good buy

James

Looks great mate!!

We had a power cut the other day, the village were in complete darkness, except our house, cos I cranked up the old paraffin lamps and candles!!

johnreid

Moose needs to explain the Mantle to you James. As he also knows about them. Those lamps when adjusted properly can be every bit as bright as an electric lamp, and provide some heat too. Come to thoinl of it, I need to get some oil for mine.

James

Aye, I bought a mantle, lit the lamp, c'est mantle fell off and smashed before it could prove it's worth

johnreid

Dang, James that doesnt sound good. Mine twists to lock in place. I will take some pictures in the near future and post them here, The Mantle is the key to the super bright light.

James

YEah so did mine, but I was filling it with paraffin, which I always do through the hole where the wick holder screws in, not the little one. I were just putting it back on, and smash

Kevin Klein

I got two of them, one still new and unused. They are great lamps and bright, hot enugh you can easily light your cigarette over the top of the chimney. Be carful not to have it turned up too far or the mantle will get soot deposits built up on it, if that happens turn down the flame and it will burn off in a while.
The mantle is VERY fragile after having been used,its basicaly self supporting ash. Incase you might want to know, the mantle has a radioactive substance in it.

madeinenglang

there grate I used to sell them and tilley lamps all over the uk when I used to go to steam rallies with my friend until he moved to France

bessytractor

Oooo I like that Moose, my grandparents have something like that very similar but converted to electric. Its still got its old parraffin gear so could be changed back.

MooseMan

I've had it going for the last few evenings now, it's nicely run in and the mantle is really coming into its own. Did a bit of research into the mantles - apparently the modern ones are non-radioactive, but you can still buy the old-fashioned thorium ones - they give a brighter light, and are very mildly radioactive - about the same level as granite.

I'm amazed at how easy it is to find parts for this 80-year-old.....most of the parts are still being made today, wicks, mantles, flame spreaders, chimneys - no problem.

Mamodman123

pauly

radioactive table lamps

so that's why my hair falls out every time I go into an antique shop.

and they say steam engines are dangerous.