Gypsy Moth oil lamp help

[NUTMEG]

I have just purchased one from FleaBay. It arrived very well packed but the gymbal only works in one axis, the other being fixed. It looks as if it has been repaired in the past. Can anyone tell me if these lamps should 'swing both ways' so to speak.

Thanks

Steve

 

[pvb]

I have just purchased one from FleaBay. It arrived very well packed but the gymbal only works in one axis, the other being fixed. It looks as if it has been repaired in the past. Can anyone tell me if these lamps should 'swing both ways' so to speak.

It should. Doesn't the "yoke" bit swivel on the mounting?

 

[NUTMEG]

That was quick...

Thanks mate. No, the yoke is bolted solid with non-standard looking bolt and mild steel washers
Looks like I have been caught.

I will have to get into Bodge mode and see what I can do.

 

[diapason]

I'm looking for some oil lamps for my boat, and, as a fan of Chichester (he was born in my home town), I'd be interested to know more about the Gipsy Moth lamp. Is it a 'brand' of lamp? (If you read 'The Lonely Sea and the Sky', Chichester relates problems he had with a running light on Gipsy Moth lll. He says that he would like to bring the designer into the Atlantic to see if he could make the thing stay alight. Any info gratefully received.
N

 

[pvb]

Thanks mate. No, the yoke is bolted solid with non-standard looking bolt and mild steel washers
Looks like I have been caught.

Another eBay "bargain"!

 

[Amulet]

I have just purchased one from FleaBay. It arrived very well packed but the gymbal only works in one axis, the other being fixed. It looks as if it has been repaired in the past. Can anyone tell me if these lamps should 'swing both ways' so to speak.

Thanks

Steve

If I were less polite I might say that the Gipsy Moth lamps are such shoddy things that I wouldn't bother mending it. I had a couple in the past. Both thrown overboard in a rage when the silly short thread on the tank got knackered. I depend on oil lamps and realised I had to be prepared to spend a little morre to get ones that actually were meant for day-to-day use. Such as these. I tried to be mean as hell and buy cheap but eventually caved in and bought decent ones - all working well.

 

[diapason]

Those Classic Marine lamps look magnificent - I'm pleased to see a personal recommendation as I shall probably invest in a set for my boat. Sounds like the GM ones may be closely related to that which Sir Francis had so many problems with in the Atlantic
N

 

[NUTMEG]

Build quality IS rubbish I am sorry to say. I know you get what you pay for so mustn't grumble. Only thing is, is that this particular lamp is not as described, having been well bodged up to sell. Still, buyer beware, and all that.

 

[Chrusty 1]

Build quality IS rubbish I am sorry to say. I know you get what you pay for so mustn't grumble. Only thing is, is that this particular lamp is not as described, having been well bodged up to sell. Still, buyer beware, and all that.

You aren't the only one to be "caught" on fleabay, I got had over myself, seller was crafty with photos, so fault on item didn't show. When I complained to the seller I was more or less told to feck off. I could have complained to fleabay, but I had no faith that it would be of any use. We aint the first, and we wont be the last, but I just wont buy anything off there anymore.

 

[MudShipper]

You might find that just slackening the bolt will allow it to swing. it will need a lock nut though to stop it falling apart. I have a similar one which came with this arrangement. It wasn't fantastic, but I modified it with a bearing race under both ends of the bolted bit - worked a treat. The yoke to Ring which the lamp sits in seems to swing fairly freely.

 

[NUTMEG]

Great idea. Got some phosphor bronze bushing somewhere. Will have to dig out the model makers lathe and have a play. Weather and tides this weekend are rubbish anyway.

 

[prv]

I'd be interested to know more about the Gipsy Moth lamp.

They're just cheapo probably Chinese-made oil lamps taking a famous name in vain. Fairly common, I bought one and have no particular complaints, but they're certainly not a quality item.

Pete

 

[Billjratt]

Don't think you need to make bearings or anything so technical. Just get a decent screw fitted to the wall pedestal, with a nut at the back to lock it in position. You want it (the screw) to be a snug but not tight fit in the gimbal hole, washers should not be required.
The next thing you'll probably break is the wick mechanism......

 

[NUTMEG]

Thanks. Did just as you suggest. Long brass bolt with locknut to secure to the yolk. Bolt a snug but not tight fit in wall bracket with a washer/nut behind. Peened the bolt/nut to stop it coming undone in use. The whole bolt moves within the supporting tube, nice and smooth but given it a drop of oil too. Just need to fit the correct glass chimney. Bargains!?

 

[MudShipper]

Don't think you need to make bearings or anything so technical. Just get a decent screw fitted to the wall pedestal, with a nut at the back to lock it in position. You want it (the screw) to be a snug but not tight fit in the gimbal hole, washers should not be required.
The next thing you'll probably break is the wick mechanism......

If it's anything like mine, it will be the glass - incredibly fragile!

I'm now on my third, this one adapted from a jam jar, which hopefully will last longer being much thicker glass.

 

[NUTMEG]

Another question

What stops the glass from hitting the bulkhead. I think that in the choppy short seas we get here the top of the glass chimney is bound, sooner or later, to hit the b/head

 

[prv]

What stops the glass from hitting the bulkhead. I think that in the choppy short seas we get here the top of the glass chimney is bound, sooner or later, to hit the b/head

I've just looked, and realised mine isn't a Gypsy Moth after all, it's a Fastnet. Same range, but a slightly different version in which the heat-shield gimbals with the lamp.

On this one, the arm that holds the heat-shield would hit the bulkhead first.

Pete

 

[Pleiades]

Oil lamps

I think the Fastnet Style oil lamp may be a better buy- depending on where you put the lamps - because the hear shield is gimballed - no use having a fixed heat shield if the lamp marks the headlining when the boat heels.
These Fastnet style ones are the fairly cheap Nauticalia ones which although of modest quality are still going strong after years of very regular use -and white headlining is still white without cleaning - would not be without them.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5