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Around here in PA and in upstate NY, kero is readily available from gas station pumps at about the same price as fuel oil (currently c. $3/gal. and rising). I never suspected that kero would NOT be available everywhere! I pump it right into a metal can, either 5 or 2.5 gal., depending on my needs, and this lasts a long time at my camp. My other fuel up there is propane (fridge, cookstove, lights).

Henry wrote:Around here in PA and in upstate NY, kero is readily available from gas station pumps at about the same price as fuel oil (currently c. $3/gal. and rising). I never suspected that kero would NOT be available everywhere! I pump it right into a metal can, either 5 or 2.5 gal., depending on my needs, and this lasts a long time at my camp. My other fuel up there is propane (fridge, cookstove, lights).

In MN close to where I used to live you buy it in bulk for ~$5/gallon now.

Here I have to buy it by the liter in plastic bottles. It works out to just over $15/gallon.

Here's some more information on the new mantles
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALADDIN-R-150-LOX-O ... 1c182f15bc

Claims they are ~40 candle power, not as bright as those of Brazilian manufacture but the most durable Aladdin has ever made.

Last time I needed new upright mantles for my gas lights, I got pretty cheap old/new ones offa eebaye. $45 for 15, as I recall . Original price 35cents, so they must be quite elderly.

Today I got some of the new Aladdin mantles made in the Philippines. They arrived intact and have not started to break apart after a few hours of use like the last three batches of old stock I got. Luck or design or??? I really don't know but this seems to have solved my problem with mantles, so far....

Tonight is the 5th night using the Aladdin lamp with the new production mantles at about 5 hours a night. So with 20 plus hours on the first mantle, no degradation at all. It looks solid.

They are not supposed to be as bright as the Brazilian ones acc. to some but they are so bright you cannot look at them when turned up to max brightness.

I guess I can start enjoying my lamp again...

That's good to know, even though I won't be needing to resupply on Kone Kaps for a long while. I had a bad batch, apparently, where three or four each disintegrated within days. But the (old-stock) one I'm using now has been burning nightly for many, many months without the slightest degradation.

And now something totally off-topic, yet somewhat related: I recently bought a combination gas/electric sconce that had been rewired for electricity (as most are now). I removed the modern socket from the gas fixture, installed a very small candelabra socket inside a brass tube to resemble a gas fixture, found an original Welsbach gas burner/chimney assembly, and fit it with a replica gas mantle covering a 15w T7 tubular bulb. I rigged a brass wire to suspend the faux 'mantle' from the original mantle support bracket. The result is so realistic it's almost scary. I would much rather have a real gaslight but that is not possible here. At least this doesn't look like a standard socket and bulb. (For the electric outlet I'm using a vintage carbon filament bulb.)

Complete fixture:

You are clever! Now I'm jealous.

I have several of them at my cabin, but I can never get them to burn evenly. My old Rayos aren't as bright, but they're easier to run.

For parts,, try Lehman's: http://www.lehmans.com/store/Lamps_Ligh ... 150?Args=

If you haven't visited lehman's before - you're in for a treat. Get a catalog- some of my favorite reading!

Nat

Valecnik wrote:Tonight is the 5th night using the Aladdin lamp with the new production mantles at about 5 hours a night. So with 20 plus hours on the first mantle, no degradation at all. It looks solid.

They are not supposed to be as bright as the Brazilian ones acc. to some but they are so bright you cannot look at them when turned up to max brightness.

I guess I can start enjoying my lamp again...

Well more than three months now on the same mantle you see pictured in previous posts. I use the lamp every night, no indication whatsoever of degradation. I bought a shade for it, tried to get used to it. Took it off, like them better without...