Picked up this tatty but complete AL-21 at Ardingly Antiques Fair last month - my first inspection lamp . This is going to be a user lamp so after a strip down and clean it had two coats of VHT engine paint. Not as pretty as spray gloss, but I used this paint on the wood stove that I took to Newark, so I know it will resist the heat. Not the correct mantle, but it did OK for a quick test run. Also used a coil of woodstove rope as a temporary priming wick. I was a bit lazy and didn't clean out the control cock and fuel tube as thoroughly as I should have so have got a bit of pulsing. Now that I know the lamp is working, I'll dedicate some more time to it tomorrow (4 month old Grandson permitting, who I'm looking after on my own all day!). Regards, Terry
Looks fabulous, Terry. Really nice job on the restoration. These may be more common in your neck of the woods, but over here, they are quite a conversation piece at the campground. I always bring mine along on camping trips; way more fun than a flashlight when walking about. Dan
Great job! Did you sandblast the lamp? Are the decals reproductions or did you mask them before painting?
Stephan - no, I didn't sand blast it. I dismantled it and then cleaned the rust and flaky paint off using a Scotchbrite wheel on a bench grinder. Then used a Dremel wheel to get into the awkward bits. The decals are original and I just painted around them as best I could. The paint was Halfords VHT Engine Enamel Paint. I don't think you can get that exact paint outside the UK - it is an own-label brand from a UK chain of auto parts stores. I can't see the point of using standard auto paint which will just burn off the first time the lamp is used. Terry
Thanks a lot Terry! Good idea with the Scotchbrite wheel! The one I restored got sandblasted, next time I'll try it your way
