Just purchased a 300x from a collector, only needing a wipe down and seal change but on inspection the control knob is from a bialadin. My thoughts are is this a original part as i believe this lamp is one of the last model made before they were taken over and changed to bialadin so may have interchangable parts from new or is it just the wrong part. Also the colour is gold with no heat shield. The top has circular holes which were for export lamps i believe. Or is it just a odd mix of parts. Still a nice lamp for its age. Clive.
Taken over is not right. Bialaddin were made by W&B from about 1946 and branded as such but the manufacturer was always W&B. The early Bialaddin 300s were the old Vapalux 300x lantern and just rebranded so a Bialaddin valve on what appears to be a 1940s Vapalux could be right. I am not aware that any Vapalux or Bialaddin was made in gold colour. Grey, green, cream, brown and maroon but gold never. ::Neil::
Tilley probably had that patented as well! You missed out silver, by the way. My understanding of the situation is that during the '30s, W&B had been making lamp parts for Tilley and Petromax. I presume that towards the end of that decade, some bright spark at W&B realised they could produce their own lamps and sell them at a profit. I suspect this is why the E41 is something of a Tilley/Petromax hybrid (Tilley-type lower parts, vapouriser and burner with a Petromax-type gallery and hood). Anyway, W&B came up with 'Vapalux' as the brand name. In 1946, marketing of the lanterns was taken over by Aladdin of Greenford who came up with 'Bialaddin' for the brand name. As Neil says, the lanterns (and later on, lamps and heaters) continued to be made by W&B in Halifax. The arrangement with Aladdin ended in 1968 and production continued, as ever, at Halifax and the use of the brand name 'Vapalux' resumed. That's the bare bones of it, anyway...
Thank's for replies to topic. On close inspection as its completly stripped down there is no sign of any paint that has been applied of those colours mentioned, however i wonder if its just brass that has a clear coat applied but has then tarnished underneath to give a painted effect. What ever it is the fount and hood will not polish with brass cleaner. The support legs are riveted and the frame looks really strong and cleans up well as it appears to be all brass. The glass has a lighting hole but a small crack as its very thin glass. Almost ready for testing. Clive
