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How to Identify Center Draft and Kosmos Lamps

And once identified by type of lamp (center draft, Kosmos or flat wick) you can
then  identify the typical type or the "pattern" of the lamp and the original intended use.
Often parts are missing which can obscure the original use concept.

The nomenclature of the lamp parts are the same for all oil lamps; LANTERNS have different part names. For example, lamps have "chimneys" which are held in place on the bottom of the chimney whereas lanterns have "globes" which are held in place top and bottom. 

Oil Lamp parts by name, courtesy of Dr. CourterAladdin lamp partsColeman mantle lantern parts courtesy of Old Town Coleman Center, and pressure gasoline lantern parts.

Often the only photo sent with a request to me for identification does not show ''the lamp.''

Nice photo but the shade covers the actual "lamp'' completely - there are no clues whatever that can be used to identify the lamp - or the lamp parts! The nomenclature of the lamp parts are the same for all oil lamps, whether Aladdin mantle lamps, center draft lamps or Kosmos lamps.

Flame Spread Clearly Shows The Manufacturer...but not the size

Remove the shade and low and behold, there is a flame spreader that answers the question of identity!

No Markings on Lamp But Lots of Clues!!!

No flame spreader, no markings on lamp, so the clues needed are best done with a photo of the burner in profile with the wick knob facing the camera.  Now we can see the burner configuration, the wick knob and the embossing pattern.  By reviewing Courter's Center Draft Lamp book, we can see those clues indicate the lamp was made by P&A between 1892 and 1898 and is a #2 P&A Royal burner on a drop-in font or "pot insert" font often used in GWTW lamps made by Consolidated, Fostoria and others with the flame spreader marked with the brand name of the company which made the glassware part of the lamp.

Draft tube and Outer Wick Tube Equal Height

A photo from this angle shows the center draft tube ("C") and the outer wick tube ("O") are the same height.  If the lamp had been electrocuted for the addition of an electrical light bulb socket the center draft tube would have most likely been cut down.  That is a MAJOR problem as the lamp could not be restored to liquid fuel without a replacement of the draft tube.

Measuring the INSIDE DIAMETER of ''C" and the OUTSIDE DIAMETER of "O" will allow the determination of the SIZE of the burner and thus the wick required.

Some center draft lamps have been modified to hold an electrical socket and CANNOT be easily converted to again be ''oil lamps,'' and some sellers on eBay do not know what they have or fail to disclose their lamps have been ''electrocuted.''  

At right is an example of a cut-down center draft tube. The tube is visibly irregular on top with sharp edges.  Not having the burner installed does not show how much shorter the center draft tube (#C in photo above) is than the outer wick tube (#0 in photo above), sorry, but with the burner installed the height difference would be a noticeable. An example of a drastically cut down draft tube is here (click).

Every manufacturer of lamps used their own dimensions when drawing the draft tubes so simply taking a draft tube from any old center draft tube is NOT a suitable replacement - the draft tube almost always must come from an identical make and model of center draft lamp.

At right is a "pot insert" often used in GWTW and "vase" lamps; the photo shows there are no vertical stress cracks in the font so no repair is needed there.

A missing flame spreader can often be replaced as they can often be found on eBay.
But the exact model of the lamp - not just the manufacturer - MUST be identified as
the flame spreaders were specifically designed for individual burners. I can help with
identification if I have all of the markings on the lamp and wick knob along with properly
sized photos showing the burner IN PROFILE WITH THE WICK KNOB FACING THE
CAMERA and the embossing pattern (if any) clearly visible.  miles@milesstair.com

Burner Damage

A photo of any damage to the burner will reveal if the burner can be repaired or used as-is.  Click on the photo at right and you will see a horizontal crack in the gallery right below the chimney seat.  In this case the burner could still be used. Notice in this photo the wick knob is centered and readable and the chimney gallery is in profile and the gallery can be measured to get a correct chimney fit. Click on the photo at right to enlarge it.

Identification of Kosms Burners

The photo near right shows a typical side-draft Kosmos air cutout in the outer wick tube. 

The photo far right shows the wick tube is clearly marked for the size and type of burner - in this case it is a 14''' Kosmos.  Not all Kosmos burners are so nicely marked.

FINDING THE WIDTH OF KOSMOS WICK REQUIRED  - Click here

FINDING THE CORRECT SIZE KOSMOS CHIMNEY - click here.

MEASURING TO FIND THE PROPER SIZE CENTER DRAFT CHIMNEY
         Much more detailed information - click here

How to measure to find the correct wick for an old heater.  Click here

 

 

 

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Heater Information below

Lamp Wicks:

Center Draft Wicks - Wicks available only from this Wick Shop.

Flat lamp wicks

Aladdin Lamp Wicks & parts

Lamp Chimneys:

Center Draft Lamp chimneys
from "Tiny" Junior to Mammoth lamps.

Fabulous "Sans Rival" borosilicate chimney for 14''' Kosmos lamps

Student Lamp Sans Rival Chimney with 1 7/8" fitter!!!

Standard glass lamp chimneys

Sonnenbrenner Lamp Chimneys

Information on lamps:

Center Draft Kerosene Lamps
(Photos, information and history, etc)

Photos of restored center draft lamps 

Care, Feeding and Restoration of Center Draft Lamps (and wick installation for many)

Center Draft Lamp manufacturers and brand names

Lamp Chimneys - Dimension of nominal base diameter by make, model and "line".

Early American Metal Font & Specialty Lamps

Aladdin Lamp History

Aladdin Lamp Wicks & Chimneys,

Aladdin - Exploded burner views

Kosmos-Brenner lamps and wicks

Flame Spreaders and "Smoke Consumers" from Alex Marrack

  • Vulcan, Imperial, Veritas, Belgian, Hinks, Messenger's, Young's Court, etc.

    Articles by Alex Marrack:

Home Page

Site Index

Site Index for all things Perfection

Kindler Wicking For Oil Stoves & Ranges

Kerosene Heaters

Alphabetical list of most kerosene heaters and the proper wick, & cart checkout.

List by wick number and the heaters that fit them. (A helpful guide for buying on eBay)

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