Sorry for stupid question, but what would it be like running a pressure lamp let say Bialaddin 315, without the glass (or globe)? Would it work at all? If it would, would it be dangerous in anyway? I have an old 315, and renewed all the seals and washers, but just cannot get hold of replacement glass.
It will work but it won't like any wind/breeze/draught at all and it'll be potentially dangerous. I'm sure many people here could rustle up a replacement glass for you. I almost certainly can - PT me if you want...
Hi Try here at "John Moncrief's" http://www.johnmoncrieff.co.uk/shop-2/proddetail.php?prod=700191s Stu .
Glass for a 315 is not a problem. PLenty around still. Most pressure lamps will run without a globe. In fact some table lamps were intended to be used without. For outdoor stuff there can be a problem because even a gentle breeze can blow heat away from the generator and the fuel will not vaporise which can result in a nice fire. This is less likely in Tilley and Bialaddin because the generator runs inside the mantle but in lamps with a straight generator and no Preston ring this is a real danger. Some early lamps have to have a globe because they need the heat retention to operate correctly. This applies to some Coleman kero lanterns such as the 206 which barly runs hot enough to work with a globe. ::Neil::
Thank you for info. I have 4x lamps serving well right now. This 5th glassless 315 is sitting in the corner of the shed. I will get back to you when / if I decide to use it.
Yeah I was wondering because Bialaadin Bowl Fire heaters are also pressurised system, and they run without glass or globes.
Yes the bowl fires run without but they are generally used indoors so the draughts are minimal and more importantly the vaporiser runs inside the mantle which keeps it hot enough. Really there are very few lamps that don't like running without a globe when there is no draught. There are just a few that play up and I suspect that is mostly because the mantle choice is wrong. Where you may run into problems is with pre 1920 lamps some of which need the globe to act as a chimney to channel the heat. ::Neil::
Here in Australia a mantle would not last 1st burn without glass & insect screens. We have mantle bashing moths and other suicidal bugs attracted by any bright light
Indeed that would be another issue in the UK too.... Even with the glass, both at Newark and Ashover after my lamps had been running a while there was a carpet of dead bugs on they table where they were standing... One of the first jobs the next day was to clean them all off
