I've got quite a few 'shelf queens' as we term them i.e. lamps and lanterns that are, for whatever reason, never used but instead placed on a shelf for the pure delight of simply looking at them and perhaps, once in a while, taking them down for a gentle polish. It seems to me that there's no point in having these sitting on a shelf with a perfectly serviceable vapouriser fitted that could be better used elsewhere. So I just wondered; what's the general feeling on this? I can see that an NOS (new, old stock) lantern in its box with all paperwork and accessories ought to be kept like that. On the other hand, a very lightly used lantern with excellent paint/chrome and hood but no box etc. could be fitted with a life expired vapouriser for display only. It's a dilemma - for me, anyway...
Sorry, have no advice in that regard. I have unused lanterns needing fettle for work. And have lanterns in working condition and being used. 99%
I tend to agree. I feel like I am cheating myself if I wipe down a lamp, stick a shade on it and put it on a shelf. The Molitor lantern I just posted in the fettling forum. I was having a Devil of a time unblocking the jet. I said to myself, just forget it, put the jet in - it's only going to sit on a shelf. I couldn't do it, I had to persist and get the jet unblocked just for my own gratification. Having said the above, I also believe it is each to their own. There is no right or wrong way, it is the way any individual collector feels. I know if I have an unused generator, before I used it, I would be exhausting all other possibilities like servicing a used generator. I have used an unused generators to test fire problematic lamps just to satisfy myself that the used generator wasn't the problem.
David I always try to get my lanterns going, but if I have one that’s unserviceable, I’m happy to part it and help someone else out. That being the case, I don’t see any problem with the good usable parts on an unserviceable shelf queen being swapped to help get another lamp going. Cheers Tony
I like to have mine a 100% in working order, so if something happens to me they are good to go, but I must say I am a perfectionist. I do have some Tilleys hanging up outside that don't have the vaporizing needle in them and old parts, but my children know about these Tilleys, that's my 20 cents worth.
Most of my display lanterns been sitting for a few years now most likely need rewashing and a servising as usual .Bob
My personal preference is that a shelf should be able to work if it had to. On the other hand if you know it will never get used by you then why not use the vapouriser on something else. The problem being that a dead vapouriser usually looks like it is and would not look right on a pristine lamp.
My rule of thumb is, if it's NOS everything associated with it stays with it. Nothing is parted out! If it's been deemed a "shelf queen" with no real possibility of being brought back to life then leave it as it is. However, if the generator can be used in another lantern then go for it! I see no reason in it setting around in a lantern that can't be used. Does that pointless dribbling make sense?
It makes perfect sense to me, George, in that I can see both of your arguments - the lantern in question doesn't fit neatly into either, hence my dilemma. Anyway, I plan to elucidate the background behind my original query later today - watch this space...
If its a perfectly functional shelf queen, I'd leave everything on it. If its a less-than-perfect queen, i.e., having a leaky, unrepairable fount but still complete with parts and looks superficially good,(which had somehow qualified her for the shelf previously), then the vaporizer is free to go. Following that, she would no longer sit on the display shelf but exiled into a closet instead, until someone rescues her someday. A shelf queen or king in my opinion, should be as perfect as a lantern could be. Complete with the correct parts, fully functional, looks good as new, etc. Only thing is, it doesn't have to work under normal circumstances.
Well, what I meant was it could be instantly turned into a functional workhorse if required so, not just "functional" as a display 'queen' on the shelf .
My lanterns in my collection can be of two kinds: rare, odd/ugly looking and fully functional, or in a top shape, although having some hidden issues that cannot be fixed. The best would be a combination: rare, in a top shape, and fully functional. Items that are (not rare), ugly looking and/or defective/incomplete are used as spare parts donors.
