Been lurking here for a few days after having been directed by a couple of members from the Bushcraft UK forum, so I thought I'd introduce myself I'm a relative newcomer to the world of pressure lamps and lanterns, but not a total stranger. My father and I used to fish the beaches of the east coast in the mid-eighties; from Skegness in the north all the way round to Minsmere in the south. One thing that sticks out in my mind about these fishing trips with my old dad, was looking along the beach at night and seeing lanterns, hung high upon aluminium poles and rodrests, as far as the eye could see for miles in either direction. Recently, my father gave me his old lantern; a Hipolito H502 as well as a Tilley X246B (unused but with no globe)for me to use, since he no longer had use for them. The H502 took a bit of fettling to get up and running, but I finally managed it after a couple of hours. Initially the rubber seal under the filler/pressure gauge had bonded the cap tight, which took innumerable applications of WD40 and light taps with a hammer to free. Once this was sorted there was little else initially wrong with the lantern until I took it on it's first outing where the jet became blocked after about 30 minutes use. After a couple of dismantling/assembly episodes, it appeared that the seal at the base of the vapouriser valve within the tank was no longer doing its job correctly (allowing fuel to flow freely). This, coupled with the fact that the upper part of the vapouriser was bent due to excessive heat from years back, has lead me to order some spares from Pelam. Hopefully I’ll get it sorted and have some snaps up for you in no time at all. Finally, whilst searching through the usual stuff at my local army surplus place today(Anchor Supplies, Ripley) I noticed a lantern in good order sitting at the till. From looking on eBay and CPL, I recognised it as an ex-MOD Vapalux M320. They had a few in stock, but I chose one of a spritely 2001 vintage, which came with a photocopy of the instructions, a mantle, and a top reflector for the sum of £45. Okay, so it’s far from a bargain, but having fired it up I have to confess……I’m hooked.
Hi Silverhill a happy new year to you and welcome to CPL,you have now three great lanterns and well done on a great score with the VapaluxM320 a very well made lantern and comming with a reflector you got your self a real bargain, and good luck with the H502 with the parts from pelam you should have your H502 up and running and we will look forward to seeing some pics of your lanterns
Welcome to the Club Silverhill. You made a good choice with the Vaporlux 320, A nice reliable lamp. You will find lots of good, friendly, like minded, folks on this site, and if you have a Primus type stove at all, see the sister site CCS. Happy New Year - Steve.
Hi Silverhill Welcome aboard ! Recognise the bushcraft uk forum from a dear friend of mine who owns an english handmade knives company. Glad you found the forum but as for getting 'hooked', Mmmm it only gets worse from here on in Be warned friend, its one way only Oh and by the way we all love pics
Hi Silverhill Like you I recently got HOOKED. The last thing I needed was another hobby but ( Into Bonsai, Guitars, Cooking, Motorbikes, Computers, Kite buggying, Camping and walking. amongst others ). But there's something very satisfying about restoring and fettling old pressure lamps. Also when you add the science, the mechanics and messing about with FIRE (I know it's not big and it's not clever and you'll probably loose and eyebrow or two, at least ), What's not to like ! So happy lamping Silverhill. Ozz
Ooh, I dunno - you can get them cheaper, but as it is, it'll probably outlast you, your kids and your grandkids. That's a bargain in my book...
Many thanks for the warm (and rather bright ) welcome. In a response to the request for pics, I've managed to cobble a few together: My Hipolito 502. Apologies for the first photo, it was taken on my phone, in the dark, in the woods. About five minutes after this snap was taken, she gave up the ghost. The second shows the lamp in it's current state, looking rather forlorn, awaiting a new vapouriser assembly. My latest acquisition, my Vapalux/Willis & Bates 302. It works like an absolute charm 8) I'm most impressed by the quality of the workmanship.
Interesting to read your a blacksmith, Not that many craftsmen around these days.Do you still practice the craft ?
Sure do, although in an amateur capacity. I run a gas forge, as well as a traditional coke forge from the 1920's. To be honest, skill comes with practice
Good to hear I read a thread sometime ago by pete sav who restored a lovely old blanchard to an excellent standard, In one of his many pics showing his progress there was an anvil amongst an array of various hammers, that brought a smile to my face too Happy lamping
I would be surprised if it needed a complete new generator assembly. It worked for a while and they are pretty well indestructible. Probably just wants a clean out. ::Neil::
To be honest, the lamp had seen a heck of a lot of use on the beach. The upper vapouriser section; Part 151, was bent due to a 12-hour stint with the wind blowing strongly at the lantern from one directon, thus warping the brass. The kink in the part was located just under the loop upon the main stem. This problem meant it was very hard to get the upper part of the conduction rod into a position where the needle could align with the nipple without damaging the former. This, coupled with the fact that the conduction rod was flared at the thread meant that it wouldn't hold the needle very tightly as well. In hindsight though, it probably could've done with only parts 104 and 152 only By ordering the whole assembly, I know (hope ) that I can get it running, as well as having a few spare parts to refurb for future use or sale on eBay.
If it is not cracked then get it dull red hot and quench in cold water. Then cold bend it back into shape and anneal it again. You might need to run a straight rod of some sort up the tube so you can grip and bend without crushing it. Treat it right and you can bend brass without damage. Cheaper than new parts for sure and I will not reach into my pocket until I fail to fettle a part. ::Neil::
Cheers for that Neil, I'll give that a try. I'll try and create a bit of a dolly and have a bash (so to speak). I normally work with mild steel, and have always regarded brass as a bit brittle to work, but I see your point. With care I can't see any reason for it not to work. Have you heard of this type of thing happening before? I guess it's unlikely to happen to lamps with a central stem, as they're quite balanced in terms of stresses when hot. But with lamps based upon the Petromax style I can see.
Brass is funny stuff. Depending on the mix it can be a malleable as mild steel or very brittle. Some cold bends well but most brass is hot short and will be very brittle when hot. It also requires frequent annealing because it work hardens with each bend. For instance if you have to bend the brass handles of a Tilley PL53 then you will break them if you hot bend but anneal and then they cold bend easily. With these generators you heat to dull red. No more because the joints for the Preston ring are brazed in and bright red will melt the seals. An as you are probably aware you anneal brass by heating and quenching. You must re anneal after bending or you leave the brass work hardened. This bending of the generators was a problem with Petromax lamps which is because of the heat differential from the offset to the mantle. In 1951 Petromax patented an exta rib on the back of the tube to reduce this effect. You can pretty well bend these by hand. Find a drill bit of the right dia and fill the tube so you can then grip it in a vice without distorting it and then you can pull by hand. I have done this a few times and not lost one yet. Anyway you got little to lose 'cos if you can't use it as it is then breaking when attempting to straighten makes no never mind. It is a case of F or F it. ::Neil::
