01/02/06, 04:08 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 752
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tango
The gas lights were finally installed on Friday. One of them has a severe gas leak in the line so I had to shut it off until the gas man can return. He was talking up a storm as he crimped the line and set the valve - good thing it at least shuts off. They are pretty bright but not quite like a 60 watt bulb. The heat they give off is also similar to an incandescent bulb. I like them a lot as they have made my life easier. They're way better than th eoil lamps I bought at WalmArt (which are a waste of money) and cheaper than the battery operated lanterns. Probably won't be buying anymore though since I don't want to increase my reliance on the gas company. I finally moved my array over close to the house and will be wiring it and wiring the house for a little electricity this week. That is the way to go imo.
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At least the valves are good. I collect antique gas lighting fixtures (from the late 1800's/early 1900's) and the valves always leak and have to be disassembled and greased.
A little less than 60 watts sounds about right: that's what I could get with an antique burner using a similar type of mantle.
Oh, as for the issue with bugs flying into the mantles: there used to be wire mesh "globes" made that went on and protected the mantle (one of the big brands was "protect a lite"), both for the typical inverted mantle gas lights and also for Coleman type table lamps, and these old gas fixtures with the inverted mantles sometimes have two globe holders: one small one for an internal globe (either a mesh one or a glass one that only has a few small openings on the bottom to let air in), another for a decorative glass shade.
You could probably rig a good looking brass/metal screen disc and somehow attach it to the opening on the globe to keep bugs out (maybe tie it on/suspend it from the globe holder on the fixture) with some good metal wire, inside the globe, so it cannot be seen. You'll have to find a balance between protection and light output: too fine a mesh blocks some light, too big openings let too many bugs in. Since small bugs often get burned up before hitting the mantle, don't worry about the real tiny ones. Things like moths or houseflies are the worse bugs.
Last edited by antiquestuff; 01/02/06 at 04:12 PM.
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