It is quite some time now since I posted a carbide lamp here! But last week I ran into a Primus 1021 that I just couldn't let pass. I know they are common, but this one was in such a nice, un-polished condition, so I just couldn't let it stay on that shelf in the second hand store (junk shop...) I visited. That deep, bronzy look old brass get over the years is what I like. It take ages to obtain, but it's, oh, so easily destroyed with some polish, a rag and the eager to get good patina look like any other yellow brass. This first model of the Primus carbide lamp is from the last year of WWI, so it has already celebrated its 100 year birthday, and it is actually in good condition for its age. No stress cracks, which otherwise not is un-common on Primus brass carbide lamps, be that that this generally is more often seen on the later model they made during the next war. And all details inside the carbide container was still there. There is often some part missing since loose gears sooner or later is mis-placed and lost. The burner is of course totally wrong. But actually one reason why I bought it. I was interested in seeing how this type of burner worked in a normal indoor lamp. So today I got myself some time of my own, so I tested it. All I had to do was to bend the excenter locks a bit to make the seal good between the two tanks, and then I loaded it and fired it up. No surprises! All worked, and I did a sweep test, but there were no leaks (which also is un-usual for the first test run). And as always when a carbide lamp work well... No smell! (And oh... Sorry for the bad quality of the pics. I was to lazy to grab a real camera and tripod, so I just used my regular smart phone )
What make/model is the burner? What output, litres/hour? Not so much on your table lamp with a globe, but a burner that allows the perforated base and lantern assembly to slide over it without having to remove the burner then re-install it (with difficulty) is what was intended for the lantern version I guess.
No markings on this replacemet burner. The lanterns are later, but the indoor lamps used the same narrow steatite burner as them. That burner type you show is pretty much bog-standard for most Swedish calcium carbide domestic lamps. Generally 14 l/hr
Nice lamp Christer! .. Working well So it can be either garlic or paraffin smells? We don't seem to get anything that refined in the carbide table lamp style, although now i've said that John (Presscall) will probably prove me wrong?? p.s. do you think the nozzle was changed to give a greater light output?
I’ve seen another. Manufactured in Newcastle so a ‘home’ product that might mean a few examples are still around here in the UK.
I love the long stem and the 'wrought iron' decoration Is that how it was when it came to you? p.s. is the green lantern carbide as well?
