Recently got into Aladdin mantle oil lamps and well impressed with the light output! They are stated as about 40 watt equivalent light output and this about right for a well set up lamp, maybe a bit less but near enough.
So far I have just the one no. 23 lamp with a nice red shade. Running there is zero smell unlike my wick lamps which is great.
The only thing not great is the cost of replacement mantles at around £15 each. If your careful they last a while but are so fragile. Tonight I tried converting a mantle from a pressure lamp-in this case a Tilley Happy mantle to work on the Aladdin.
This first version required snipping both tied ends and tying one end to an old Loxon mantle holder and the other end installing a metal ring that gets tied with wire to the top of the support frame. Well I can report this mantle fettle does work and it gives about 25 equivalent Watts of light. This is because on initial burning off it didn't form as expected to the optimum shape of the original Loxon mantle.
I think incorporating some permanent wire under the mantle in the original shape may produce a better shape or even make a solid former out of wood to help shape it during initial burn off and then remove the former in use?
At least the concept of DIY Loxon mantles works and potentially for about a quid a pop!
So far I have just the one no. 23 lamp with a nice red shade. Running there is zero smell unlike my wick lamps which is great.
The only thing not great is the cost of replacement mantles at around £15 each. If your careful they last a while but are so fragile. Tonight I tried converting a mantle from a pressure lamp-in this case a Tilley Happy mantle to work on the Aladdin.
This first version required snipping both tied ends and tying one end to an old Loxon mantle holder and the other end installing a metal ring that gets tied with wire to the top of the support frame. Well I can report this mantle fettle does work and it gives about 25 equivalent Watts of light. This is because on initial burning off it didn't form as expected to the optimum shape of the original Loxon mantle.
I think incorporating some permanent wire under the mantle in the original shape may produce a better shape or even make a solid former out of wood to help shape it during initial burn off and then remove the former in use?
At least the concept of DIY Loxon mantles works and potentially for about a quid a pop!
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