Modifying the “Thous Winds Memory Oil Lamp”
for a good burn.
Amongst collectors there is a small cold blast lantern that attracts ludicrously high prices. Made by Feuerhand, The no.75 “Atom” is one of the smallest functioning tubular lanterns made. ( Left and second from right )
Recently, a Chinese manufacturer, “Thous Winds”, stepped into the market with close copies made of Stainless Steel and then Brass which naturally attracted a lot of attention.. The two painted lanterns in the top picture are Stainless Steel and the one in the centre is the brass version.
While the actual build quality of these lanterns is very good there seems to be a problem with the thermal properties of the steel which led to an irregular flame, which pulsed and flickered when the lantern heated up.
Fortunately there is a solution which is perhaps easier to explain than illustrate.
Forgive the poor quality phone picture but it was easier to get into position.
Where the wick rises out of the burner, there is a small collar. If you cut a narrow strip of aluminium foil and wrap it around this collar a few times it acts as a heat sink and solves the problem..
Me being me, I wanted to make the solution a little more robust so digging through my scrap metal drawer, I found a piece of brass pipe that was about the right size and cut a section the same height as the collar. Squeezing it into an oval with a pair of pliers, I then slipped it over the foil and crimped it into place with the pliers.
Hopefully you can see this in the picture above. A neat, tidy and robust solution.
Since making this modification my lanterns have all worked perfectly.
