There is a shared view by many, that accesories like top reflectors for vintage lamps are hard to find. Mind, new ones for various model lamps are made today, possibly because of a new awareness by todays users how functional these shades can be. But finding the true original hood for one's lamp is not only a collectors desire, it might be the only option in lieu of alternatives. Through the years I was lucky to get some original shades for the Willis & Bates lamps. Mind, supposedly and after much cross-referencing, as they are all unmarked. Some details are already shared here: Willis & Bates hoods / top reflectors and here: Willis & Bates two-part hood. Leaves the sizes for crosschecking: the big, wartime hood (not continued after 1945 to my knowledge) has an o.d. of 310 mm. When Vapalux became Bialaddin a smaller reflector appeared with an o.d. of 280 mm. The outer rim has a bead rolled up. Perhaps when the Bialaddins got their green enameled ventilators, a similar green shade arrived with an o.d. of 285 mm; the outer rim has a bead rolled inward. Finally, the most remarkable hood Willis & Bates provided, the two piece splitpen-coupled shade in off-white, top and bottom. Likely a military specification, and still seen with some M-1 models from the 70's not seldom offered n.i.b. Despite their o.d. of 285 mm they can be tucked away almost everywhere once taken apart. All shades share a basic i.d. of 130 mm, and all have an erect collar of about 5 mm. a distinctive feature. What looks like black in the top picture is in fact a darker shade of blue, and I am not sure any other colour as presented here appeared from the war on. See the Reference Gallery Vapalux 300 section for other, wartime colours on these rare, bigger shades. The given details might vary, as there could be various producers; just be aware of that basic inner diameter and tell-tale upright collar when you should be so lucky to find one.
I recently picked these two beauties up, perched on top of a porkpie, not sure what I’m most happy about the lamp or the reflectors..
There's also a brown enamelled one from W&B to go with the brown Vapalux 300. I think I've also seen dark blue enamelled ones (might even have a couple!) presumably to go with the cream-tanked, blue-hooded Vapalux 300...
I can relate to that indeciscion, as I would be very, very happy with the shades AND the lamp. Congratulations! Mike
Today I found a picture on my harddisk, from an ad on our major national advertising site, taken by the seller years ago. It represents a typical opportunity to get that one item you really want, in my case a shade or top reflector. This is no time for diddle daddle, but for decisive action: you just buy it all for a good bid. This also illustrates how you end up with surplus and become a seller, not seldom recuperating the initial investment, and hence, a free reflector in my case. The lamps, a later model 300X with the attractive chromed collars, belonged to a construction company from The Hague, with many more in use especially during the winter months.
@M.Meijer This is my dark blue reflector. It is 285mm diameter with the rim rolled down, and a white underside. It was not attached to a lantern when I got it. I also have a used split reflector and a NOS split reflector. Tony
Hello Tony, that looks like a touch lighter blue than my very dark one. In construction it is similar to my green one. Actually, I think yours has a nicer colour, and thus it begs even more the question for which lamp W&B - or more likely Aladdin Industries - had these shades made. They do not match any lamp colourwise, and my darker one is off-kilter even with my black topped Bia from 1947. I think the colour was a rather random chosen one, and it adds to the idiosynchrasies of the brand, but always a good find! Mike
Mike It’s hard to tell shades over the internet, but I’ve got a few very dark blue Aladdin vents (they almost look black), and this is lighter than them. Your thread is a good one. I hope others join in. Cheers Tony @M.Meijer
Tony, you have my attention: what dark blue ventilators? W&B ones or perhaps clones? The Rothman's? Yes, the value of this forum is also to exchange information, preferrably based on facts instead of possibles. You are right of course that colours on the internet with vast settings of camera's are hard to compare. But any blue W&B shade seems at odds with the lamps I am aware of, so you piqued my curiosity! Mike
When I bought this one I thought it was black, but when you get it in a different light it looks dark blue. You probably can’t tell very well from the pics.
Well, the excitement stays, but now for another reason! I take it that the Aladdin 1 A is faithfull copy of the Radius 119 - or even made by this swedish maker? That would mean one of your blue shades will fit my blue-topped 119 of 1932-33 vintage? Could I have a piccy from those? I will pitch in with my black & white Radius hood that I suspect is from the 50's. In a new thread preferably. @Gary Waller . Indeed hard to tell it is rather blue than black as you say.
Hello everyone, I've just come across this thread as I was looking for information on the colours used for the reflectors. I've just bought a two piece Vapalux reflector from The Tilleyman on Ebay with the intention of restoring it to use on my Vapalux M1. I know this is an old thread, however, from everything I've seen on here, there still doesn't seem to be much, if any, information on the actual colours used in production. My question is, in the intervening years, has any documentation/information surfaced, or been found, regarding the exact colours/shades used. I realise this may be a silly question, however, I thought I'd ask just in case anything had come to light since this thread was written I'm particularly interested in the correct shade of white to use when restoring the reflector mentioned earlier, something a bit more specific than the 'off white' mentioned above. I have no doubt that a lot of others on this esteemed and august site would be also be interested if any further information on the colours used had come to light. Many thanks. Tim
Tim, I think you are much on your own in deciding which shade of white you are going to use if a new coat of paint is unavoidable. In literature there is to my knowledge no precise description or colour code to go by. Do you not have some of the old paint as an example? Regardless, my firm impression is that top reflectors were not considered a prime product, by customers as well as manufacturers. Today's scarcity reflects imo the lukewarm popularity in times when pressure lamps ruled. This might explain why a nos pair, still wrapped in thin and fragile wrapping paper, came in two different shades of off-white. One half was a soft paint, easily removable with thinner, that had a yellowish sheen to it. The other half more of a laquer with a noticable whiter appearance. Army stock, but I doubt they wrapped their equipment in such delicate paper and taped it like a present. It must have come from whomever supplied these shades, perhaps realising that such difference did not matter with the main customer. This pair is shown in above pictures by the way. If you must respray (are the really that bad?) with a shade of off-white that is not too yellow or leaning towards pink, you should end up with a white pair no-one could find you at fault with. Good luck, Mike
Thanks Mike, there is still some colour on it so will just have to try and match that. Having seen the effect of the wider reflector on my Coleman 228J as compared to my 220J, I'm surprised that they weren't more popular, although in saying that, a lot would no doubt depend on the intended usage of the lantern when it was bought or supplied. They are an interesting option which do look good on the lamps, which, as you surmise, were not considered a prime product, for whatever reason. Have to admit though still not sure how the single piece reflectors fit, I'm presuming they just slip over the top of the burner hood. Tim
The single piece reflectors fit on any W&B lamp ever made, simply by lowering them on the lamp (with or without the bail or handle standing up). Safe for the table lamps that is. Yes, from a user point I am surprised so few people seem to appreciate them. For me, they are a key to use them on a table for instance, being shielded from the glare. But also from a collecting point of view: to my eyes at least they look so good, that a lamp without is almost naked. Mike
I've got a Tilley X246B and was considering a reflector for that as well, do they slip on the same way?
Tim, the reflector - if original issue - for the ubiquitous Tilley X246 (in any incarnation) is a case in point: they are rare as hen's teeth. Perhaps the product offering has changed by now, but a new item ordered in England a 6-7 years ago proved to be non-fitting. If you can find an original, even with purple paint on it, buy it! Any reflector on any make of lantern will likely attach in the same manner. There are variations like how they can be 'secured' to the lamp as well, like with the Radius 119 shade, but this is not common, and all basicly sit on the outermost rim of the ventilator most people call a top.
Oh good, will keep an eye out for one, better let my friend know not to let go the reflector that came with his 12/70 dated 246B when he bought it, especially as it's in original Tilley wrapper. Good to know fitment is liable to be the same even if the method of securing it can vary. As you say, finding an original one is liable to be difficult, however they are out there and if I can find an original, it will be worth it. Thanks again Mike.
To be clear, fitment is the same based on gravity, not automaticly with size! The latter depends on inner diameters, and almost all different brands of lamps are different in size and among different model of lamps. A good example is the two different inner sized hoods for Petromax and Primus lamps. Within the Tilley X246 range they are the same, not with other Tilley models afaik. Securing methods (so that the top reflector will stay with the lamp say in windy conditions) are not common and non universal.
Yes, even though my friend's Tilley reflector just dropped in to place nicely, I know that was only because it was for a Tilley. So from what you're saying, reflectors from the different manufacturers may either be one size fits all eg Bialaddin/Vapalux, or model range specific eg Tilley 246 range, depending on the manufacturer and model ranges made. And if the reflector is secured to the lamp in any way, it will be make and model specific, and only if the manufacturer thought it necessary for some reason in the first place. I hope I've summed this up correctly. As someone fairly new to this wonderful hobby, I have to say this thread, and the further information you've given, is a masterclass on this type of reflector and will be appreciated by anyone who, like me, is interested. And yes, they do look right when fitted. Once again, thanks Mike
Yes Tim, your general conclusion about hoods, shades or top reflectors is correct the way I see it. Thank you for the accolade, but this exchange is very much what this site is about. There is a wealth of knowledge with contributions from every corner of this world, thanks to the internet. And I like to share what little knowledge I have, based on first hand experience, not from hearsay. I am sure many will react the same way on your next questions should they arise. Kind regards, Mike
