Need A Light ???

scott_vt · Mar 13, 2006

My Pop gave me this old torch, buffed it up and put a piece of 1/2" copper tubing out the top with a light socket, add a shade and voila, a lamp!

Any old plumbers out there that used one of these? They ran on white gas i believe, wonder how many houses these things burned down before outlawed ? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Scotty

RonR · Mar 13, 2006

I have my Dad's torch in the shed. We used it to thaw water pipes in the house where I grew up.

I think we used white gas also. I recall that it has a small tray under the torch part. You pour some gas in that, and light that gas. It pre-heats the torch, so it will function well.

I'm not sure but what they were supposed to run on kerosene and it took the pre-heat to get it going.

It sure was a spectacle to see it being lighted!

Ron

scott_vt · Mar 13, 2006

Hi Ron,
Yeah, those old things just look dangerous! I vaguely remember my Pop or someone in our cellar using one of those things and Im almost 55, so Im thinkin it was quite a few years ago /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

ps And they say chainsaws are dangerous /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Mar 13, 2006

Scotty, I'm just a little older than you, and it's definitely been more than 50 years ago, but I can remember my granddad using one of them, although I've never used one myself.

scott_vt · Mar 13, 2006

Mornin Bird,
Thanks for the timetable check /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Im thinkin I remember him using that thing, but the memory isnt what it used to be /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Senior moment ?

scotty

mikim · Mar 13, 2006

My Dad used one of those to scorch the paint on our house - in order to scrape it off for repainting. That woulda been about 1960. He kept it for years after but never used it again.

scott_vt · Mar 13, 2006

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the reply, I think your Dad was a lot safer using it on the outside of the house than the inside /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

Deerlope · Mar 13, 2006

Torchs don't burn houses just like guns don't kill people. There were a lot less of them in use during there day than the propane torch of todays time. One thing about those old blow torchs they had to be pumped up about every 1/2 hour so you could not leave it along for very long, Where as the propane could be left burning until the tank is dry.

midlf · Mar 13, 2006

I've got one and still use it occasionally when I have a job that needs more heat than a propane torch. Note I said "more heat" not "higher temperature". It has a very large flame. It uses white gas. I don't believe it could run on kerosene.

Getting "white" gas is no problem. For these torches "white gas" just means unleaded. Fill plug is on the bottom and the bottom is concave and acts as a funnel. You pump it up, pump is the handle. Put your hand over the business end of the torch and turn on the gas. The gas is a very fine stream that comes out of the nozzle at a slight angle and hits the burner side. You keep your hand over the end until the burner pan under the nozzle fills up 1/2 way. Turn off the gas, light the gas in the burner pan. Let it burn until it almost burns out. This preheats the nozzle barrel. Turn on the gas and it starts, let the burner pan burn empty. Use torch, pump as necessary. The pump pressurizes the tank just like on a Hudson bug sprayer.

Bird · Mar 14, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Getting "white" gas is no problem. For these torches "white gas" just means unleaded. )</font>

Yeah, and you can buy one gallon cans of Coleman lantern fuel, but have you noticed the prices? In the late '50s when we were selling regular gas for 30 cents a gallon or a little less, we also sold "white gas" and kerosene for 10 cents a gallon. I've never understood why unleaded was so much cheaper then and higher now.

scott_vt · Mar 14, 2006

Mornin Steve,
Thanks for the instructions /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Yep, I remember some big flames when the trough was filled and lit prior to heating the nozzle! I have another one of those things somewhere that was not brass and bronze that I could try out /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Maybe someday when I get brave /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

midlf · Mar 15, 2006

Bird - I would say part of that 30c vs 10c was the taxes. I also wish I knew for sure if todays pump no-lead had additives that bothered a Coleman type unit. I know if you used leaded fuel in them the "stove" tube that vaporized the gas would plug up with the lead additives. It probably was not something you should breathe either but we didn't worry about that then.

Nasty135 · Mar 18, 2006

Hey Scotty, I was reading this post and looked up on our desk in the study and saw this torch, It looks a little smaller than the one you posted...

Did they come in different sizes?? Must have

jpm · Mar 19, 2006

my father has 1 and as a kid we played with it but dad never let us put any fuel in it /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

George2615 · Mar 19, 2006

I got this old torch from my Dad's estate years ago. It belonged to my grandfather. Made by Otto Bernz Co. in Newark, NJ. Patented Nov 15, 1910. I've been keeping it in the garage. One of these days I'll polish it up. Maybe a Genie will come out and grant me three wishes.

George

scott_vt · Mar 20, 2006

Mornin Mark,
Nice torch /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thats a good question! And one that I dont have an answer for. I will call my Pop and ask and get back to you on it.

Good to hear from you! Ill bet Maryland is getting some warmer weather by now /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif We are still kind of waiting on it! Should be startin to warm up pretty soon! The calendar says spring but it dont feel like it to me.

scotty

scott_vt · Mar 20, 2006

Mornin George,
Thanks for the pic. That thing is interesting for sure! They make a nice conversation piece if nothing else.

By the way, I think Ill start rubbing that torch, maybe Ill hit the powerball /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

Nasty135 · Mar 20, 2006

Mornin Scotty, Temps last friday were great like it went to the low 80's /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif but went back down to more normal 40's and very windy here the last week or so. The bradford pear trees have bloomed along with the forsithias and I have already planted the kale and snow peas /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif But no rain yet but they are calling for snow tomorrow /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif OH well some cold water is better than nothing....

Expecting much better weather coming soon...

scott_vt · Mar 23, 2006

Mornin Mark,
I checked in with my Pop this morning and he informed me that yes they did make different sizes. They made as small as about half the size of what I have and they made some slightly larger that mine. Hope that answers your question! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty