Can someone fill me in on the history, time line and differences between the Tri and quad footed AL21. How much rarer is the 3 leg version? how does that reflect or does it reflect in their value..Cheers (AL21 virgin) Martin
My AL21 hunting experiences don't show the 3 legged models to be any rarer than the 4 legged at all. I have more 3s than 4s on my shelves. I don't believe everybody will have had the same results though.
I've got a 3 leg and a 4 leg, but I've yet to find an earlier 3 leg with the separate air release screw. Although the Al11 fills it's spot nicely.
None of them are all that common although they do turn up on the Bay now and then. The 1960s four leg should be easier partly because they are later but also because a few years back the German army unloaded a lot of surplus AL21s some of which were NIB. They don't seem to vary much in price either. This is one case where age doesn't alter value. ::Neil::
Small Correction @Mackburner : I think you mean the AL21's from the THW, Technsiches HilfsWerk. That is more civil defence so not army. Besides this there also the Swiss Al21's, like the Al6 and 246 that where used by the governement. Post, railway, civil defence.
Hmm OK maybe I made a wrong assumption there. You know I can't read German so I thought army surplus was the most likely. They had to be surplus since they often came NIB. Perhaps I should have said Government surplus. ::Neil::
I was sort of asking as a prelude to acquiring my very first AL21 and from a member on here, so there may well have been a picture taken of this very lamp somewhere in the picture vaults. She's not immaculate but definitely perfect in my eyes! its funny how, on occasion, these lamps can just grab you! and I think the AL21 is just one such lamp. So I guess I ended up answering my own question in the end (well at least finding the information) and this three legged baby is 'second vintage' in the AL21 line up (1946 to early 50's)...and yes, I paid a little more for a three legged version lol only £20 as I bought a 4 legged version at the same time, which my buddy Shaun has now.
We actually can't be certain about the dates of these. There is much less info out there for the industrial stuff. I suspect the type 1 may have lasted longer. An early '50s guide for spares does not list the cock which implies it is the type 1 which only has a pricker control. I can't date these spares guides but they do show model SDR and the second TL106 so they have to be from about 1950 to 1956. The 1957 catalogue shows a three leg version but this time lists cock 2563 which is the one used on model X246. Problem with that catalogue is it illustrates a three leg type 1 with just the pricker control but with a parts list that has to be for types 2 or 3 as it lists the cock. So I now think the type 2 is mid 1950s but given conflicting evidence I can't be sure. ::Neil::
