I've recently bought a Vapalux pressure lamp from a flea market and would like to service it and get it working again, but I've no prior experience of paraffin lamps so was hoping someone can point me in the right direction. From what I can make out the lamp I have is c1942-46. It's all brass construction - the fount has been stripped of its paint, but underneath this appears a grey/green colour. The top of the lamp is stamped AM (I've been told this is for Air Ministry). The fount has a 'tit'. The first fault I noticed is that the control cock wouldn't turn to operate the wire cleaner / pricker. I've stripped the lamp down and freed off the pricker control, but it seems as though there is a piece missing from the control - I can see an eccentric cam at the end of the control, beneath where the vapouriser screws into place, but it looks like I am missing a spacer piece between this and the bottom of the pricker wire. I've bought a washer service kit from BCL as the leather pump washer was well past its best and the other washers look pretty tired. Amongst the kit is a small round solid piece which, I think, is for the internals of the pump - but I've no idea how this is replaced. I think there should be a washer / seal under the cup nut on the control cock, but again I can't see how this is replaced. Any help much appreciated - sorry if these are basic questions!
Welcome jxmorris. Someone with more experience on this model will jive in shortly. I too am new at lanterns so I could not really give a more educated opinion. Pictures would help also determine what parts you are referring to. Cheers Ron
It sounds as if you are missing a part from the control cock. The bit you are missing was not designed to be user-replaceable. Your best bet might be to get a replacement control cock from a later lantern, as they are not an uncommon part to find. The small round washer is for the non-return valve. The valve assembly is located at the end of the pump tube. If you look down the pump tube there is a slot in the valve assembly. It can be unscrewed with a large flat-bladed screwdriver and will then slide out. There should be a small washer/o-ring that slides onto the spindle of the control cock. You need to remove the grub screw that holds the plastic knob on and remove the knob. Then unscrew the cup with your fingers and remove the cup. Remove the old washer (it may be stuck in the cup) and slide the new washer onto the spindle. Then put the cup back on and finger-tighten it.
Hi, thanks for your replies. I've added some photos of parts of the lamp. The control cock has a brass knob with no grub screw / obvious means of removal. Is the control cock likely to be beyond repair as it's missing an internal piece between the operating cam and where the pricker needle sits?
Hello, the knob on the control cock is threaded internally, it unscrews anti-clockwise. You may have to use 2 pairs of pliers to loosen it, grip the spindle firmly with one set of pliers, you may wish to use a piece of cloth to protect the spindle and another piece to protect the knob. Hold the spindle firmly and then grip the knob firmly with the second set of pliers and turn the knob anti-clockwise.
This is an early ish model E41 and with a pressure tit will be 1942 or earlier I guess. Nice find and well worth a little troube to fettle up. That brass control knob can be removed by unscrewing but being brass you can make it easy by wrapping the valve with a wet cloth and heating the knob to dull red and quench in cold water. The wet cloth is to stop the solder seal in the main valve body melting. Heat and quench will free the threads off and make it near enough hand tight. You can only do this on Vapalux with that brass knob. ::Neil::
Hi all, Thanks for your replies, I thought you may like to see this photo - I finished the service this evening and got the lamp going. I think I may need a bit of practice in getting a mantle set up correctly, but I'm pleased with progress so far.
