Posted 9 years ago
AnnaB
(85 items)
I don't remember where this thing came from. I looked it up online, and i see some LENK alcohol blowtorches that look a bit different, i.e. like torches. This one- i don't know what this is. I can't see how it would work as a blowtorch. Any insight would be helpful. Thank you!
Anna,
I believe there is another attachment that threads onto the top of the torch. If you'll scroll thru this link you'll see your torch. It's a great looking torch!!
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/archive/the-unofficial-vintage-alcohol-and-gasoline-torch-thread__o_t__t_64812.html
Jscotto363: I think this one is complete as shown in the lower right hand corner of the 1897 Bradley Hardware catalog link you provided the OP.
AnnaB: These things were made by several companies, designed for soldering, thawing frozen pipes etc., I Guess!!!. I own one myself, and can tell you this much, I recommend you Do Not try and use it, because they often leak when you fill them up with fuel, and can be Dangerous. The way they were meant to work was as follows: You fill them with fuel, light the wick on top, which will eventually transfer heat to the liquid fuel in the tank, and vaporize it, to increase pressure, and blow a flame when it is over the wick. I cleaned mine up, after learning the hard way, and just use it now for display! Lol ! Very Nice Find!
These could also be used as a drip torch where a small amount of liquid fuel is spilled onto what you wanted to burn. (Piles of brush etc.)
Scott, frisco, Caperkid - thank you so much for the comments, they are very helpful and i really appreciate your time and shared knowledge.
Frisco, yes, i think it does look the closest to the piece you mentioned, although it looks like it's missing a tube?
No way i'm going to use it for anything LOL thank goodness in the 21st century we have other instruments for all of the above-mentioned applications. A display item it is! =)
Thank you all very much for the loves, as always, much appreciated!
As an interesting note, early self-propelled toy trains ran on alcohol. One very collectible type, also fairly rare due to what I'm about to say, had no speed-controls-- so all it did was get faster and faster and faster till, eventually, it ripped itself from the tracks and spilled burning alcohol all over the place as it derailed.
Needless to say, if the parents allowed the train to be kept at all, the burner was removed and long disposed of for the safety of the home.
wow, sounds like a really safe and harmless toy... Wonder if it was "recalled" back in those days, or if any lawsuits were filed....
Not likely, since this was the 1800s.
I want one-- display only, of course.
PHEW!! I've got one of these and I've wondered for years what it actually IS. I knew it was something to do with something like solder or plumbing (heating lead joints etc etc) . The thing I DO like about it is that it's 'Health and Safety' rating is beautifully 'before'!! Intrinsically a beautiful thing though and really good quality brass. Very heavy. I just had a 'Steam Punk' suggesting that I sell it to them from another online enquiry. Ha! Ha!.