I have no idea if this is the right sub-forum to ask this question but if not please move it to the right one. Thanks I just picked this heater past Sunday and after asking over FB and CCF no one has an answer for me and I came here to see if you guys have an idea and help me with this dilemma. Any information would be appreciated!
Cool ! hmm.. speckled green enamel?? do you think there may have been ceramic type elements originally?
@podbros yes, suspect that. Unfortunately when I took the generator/vaporizer down the steel Needle was corroded and completely destroyed.
Definitely had ceramic "radiants. I have seen one of these in the flesh but it was a long time ago, certainly before I had a digital camera and if I did take pictures, I've no idea where they'll be. From memory, the tank on the one I saw was not cylindrical but had a flat bottom i.e. more like a D shape.
@podbros no, it's for paraffin only. Even if it could be run on alcohol, the cost would have been prohibitive, at least here in the U.K. where alcohol /methylated spirits has always been relatively expensive (I switched to bio-ethanol when meths got to £4.99 per litre) compared to paraffin which, before the current oil crisis, I could get for £1.80/litre. And don't forget that any given volume of alcohol (pint / litre) will not last as long as the same volume of paraffin so you'd need more fuel per hour to keep warm.
The last shot with the flame was with the fuel it had in the tank (old kerosene/paraffin) and you can see the orange flame, I don’t certainly know if this was for kerosene or gasoline as the generator/vaporizer has nothing inside but the cleaning rod. Unfortunately I broke the needle and needle holder and I have to look for a replacement or look for a machinist to make me one of these are not available anymore.
Taylors made some unusual heaters and the link below shows one, plus there is a link for another which required a major restoration and the second link below shows an advert for it. Taylor PARA-FIN Heater https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/1951-unknown-heater.1313/