I just found this photo of a lovely little WW2, ARP candle lamp that I now regret selling some years ago. See the the slitted cover for use outside during blackouts.
It was surprisingly efficient and the flame from the spring-loaded candle was placed in front of a concave reflector made mirror with real silver. I know it was silver because I cleaned off the black oxide which had accumulated in the 80 years since it was last used, and the light from it was good enough to read by in a totally dark room.
Do you watch the 'Repair Shop' Tom..
ReplyDeleteI've watched the new series for the
last four weeks..BBC1 4:30~5:15..Hour
repeats on Wens at 8:00pm..
It's an amazing program, people bring
in things, for, well, repair..Old and
memorable things with a story behind
them..a lot of the things are from the
two wars, all old, broken, rusted,
falling apart..
I started watching it with a box of tissues,
moved up to kitchen towel, now l'm on a
hand towel from the bathroom..I put my
hand up and admit..I cry watching it..Yes!
A grown man crying at summat being repaired,
it not that so much, it's the moving story
behind that article, the history etc..
I love it to bits..! :).
Oh! And the guys who do the repairs..Amazing..!
People keep telling me about it but I have, as yet, not seen it. I don't know why - maybe it is because I spend so long repairing things myself every day (or have done...) that I don't want/need to watch it at night. I will see it at some point.
DeleteThe four week new series has now finished..
DeleteThere's an hour repeat tomorrow on the Quest
channel..Free 12..Sky 144..
And the usual hour next Wednesday on BBC1
at 8:00pm..or on iPlayer of course..!
(Not to be missed)..
Seeing the WW2 ARP Candle lamp, reminded
me of someone bringing in an old miners
lamp, with an old story, to be repaired!
Yes, I think that you are right, you should definitely have hung on to it.
ReplyDeleteI was buying to sell then.
DeleteI try to photograph things I let go of now. It might not stop me wanting them back but at least I have an actual picture.
ReplyDeleteMe too, and I enjoy the space and calm by having not too many things
Delete(hahaha - to be honest: I still have too many, and keep those I really love - yet: am fascinated by Zen simplicity) and being free from "guilt" because I do not use them...
I am not a de-clutterer.
DeleteMy father continued using his ARP torch until he died. I don't remember seeing a lamp like your one photographed but he might have had one, Home Guard issue.
ReplyDeleteI love that it is a candle.
DeleteThe Repair Shop is a lovely, gentle programme. They are so skilled and it is a joy to watch. The other day they had a railway signal lamp which looked much like your candle lamp. It probably reminded Willie of it. Steve, the clock repairer fixed a lot of it and passed it to the glass guy who had to make the curved red and blue glass . He used the same process that the Romans used to curve the glass. They have experts in every field .... do you think I watch far too much television ? XXXX
ReplyDeleteI don't watch enough.
DeleteWas cleaning the black the worst part of the repair? I think it must have been tedious and exacting, not ruining the silver.
ReplyDeleteThat was all I did to it. It was in very good condition. If you use a sliver cleaner it is very easy.
DeleteI'm curious, is it a wax candle that is used? It seems like a proper fiddle was required to set it up. I've been reading about life during the war in London but there wasn't a description of how to light these lamps, as it was no doubt obvious to the contemporary readers.
ReplyDeleteThe candle went up through the base of the handle. To light it you just undid the window and lit a match.
DeleteI feel that way about certain items I've parted with over the years. The candle lamp looks like a really beaut.
ReplyDeleteI have let so many beauts pass through my hands over the years.
Delete