Parafin Anchor Lights

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doug748

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The nearby anchor light discussion is tending in this direction but I thought this needed the dignity of it's own thread.
The answer to all difficulties in finding an reliable, affordable oil lamp, that will burn overnight, is set out below:
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__eccl...&keyword=eccles+miners+lamp&ff4=228459_228460

With thanks to Tidewaiter2 for the tip.
These miners lamps are excellent, being built like a cross between a gold Longines and pneumatic jack hammer. Best news is that Fleabay knock them out for under £30 - they cost about £200 nicker when last made.
Also:
The glass will not break, it is 1/4in pyrex
They are all brass, copper and stainless
The parafin is absorbed in wadding so you can knock them over without spills.
They will burn for a good 10 hour shift
Perfect.
 
doug748 said:
These miners lamps are excellent
Click to expand...

How bright are they? I don't need a paraffin anchor light, but I'm not entirely happy with my cabin lamp (doesn't fit well in the space available) and might be in the market for a replacement. But not if it's going to be dimmer than the current one.

Pete
 
prv said:
How bright are they? I don't need a paraffin anchor light, but I'm not entirely happy with my cabin lamp (doesn't fit well in the space available) and might be in the market for a replacement. But not if it's going to be dimmer than the current one.

Pete
Click to expand...

Not as bright as a cabin light I suspect. This is because your average cabin lamp has a flat wick, which gives a big fat flame. The miners lantern has a 1/4in round wick which gives a lesser but all round light.
Tho I must admit I have not tried it below.
 
Cheers. I wouldn't want any less light than my current lamp gives out; it's just enough to read by but not really comfortably. May be better when I put a reflector behind it this winter.

I hear there is such a thing as ring-shaped wicks, which would be great for extra light, although I imagine the lamp would probably be a beast of a thing that definitely wouldn't fit in the space behind my folded-up table.

(I do have electric lights, but currently they're feeble and after replacement with LEDs they'll be efficient but probably soulless, so I do like to switch over to oil once dinner's on the table)

Pete
 
prv said:
I hear there is such a thing as ring-shaped wicks, which would be great for extra light, although I imagine the lamp would probably be a beast of a thing that definitely wouldn't fit in the space behind my folded-up table.
Click to expand...

The Fastnet lamp is a bit of a simple design, hence the attractive price. If you want more light, go for a 10 or 14 ligne wick. Central draft burners (Ideal, Kosmos, Matador and Royal) with flame spreader will give a much better light. The "Trawler Lamp" would be a good example. On the other hand they're more complex designs, rather expensive and burn more paraffin.
An interesting alternative would be the Aladdin lamp

Code: 
burner type [Ligne]	wick [mm]	candle power

Flat burner 	5'''	12 	4 cd
Flat burner	1'' 	25	6 cd
Kosmos burner	6'''	35	4 cd
Kosmos burner	8'''	42	6,5 cd
Kosmos burner	10'''	50	11 cd
Kosmos burner	14''' 	62	13 cd
Matador burner	15'''	62	17 cd
Ideal burner	20'''	88	30 cd
Feuerhand Nr.276	5'''	12	4 cd
Chalwyn Pilot	1''	23	6 cd
Aladdin Nr.23	-	-	90 cd
Geniol 150	-	-	150 cd
Petromax 500	-	-	500 cd

1 candela roughly equals 0.77 watt when compared to a traditional incandescent light bulb.
 
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