Older Aladdin lamps ?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

I posted last week about having ordered my 1st Aladdin lamp and I really like it. I got one of the lower priced ones, clear w/ no shade. I told my husband I would like to get more. He introduced me to ebay. I thought maybe by getting an older one I could get a deal. Boy, was I wrong! I suspect people are collecting the older ones. I think they are really neat annd would probably like to get some older ones but they are really expensive. That aside I worry about working condition and replacement parts for older lamps. Some were 1930's and older. Does anyone know about this type of thing. I tried to call Aladdin, but got that recorded business. I couldn't get a live person to ask! I found out there is a collector's club, called the Knights of Aladdin. I don't really want to get that into it! I do like nostalgic items at a good price that I can use though. I guess I don't want much! Does anyone know how far back replacement parts are available? How old of a lamp would you buy? How much would you pay for a used one in good working condition? Should I just buy new and forget it? Thanks!

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), December 20, 2000

Answers

Don't know a LOT about them, Denise, but Lehman's does carry parts, and I think they go pretty far back. I think they have booklets on their repair/upkeep too. And yes, Alladin lamps are very collectable. If you find one for a decent price, it probably will be because someone doesn't know what they have. Perhaps garage sales?

The collectors' club might be a good idea anyway. Perhaps you could find out which models are least desirable from a collector's standpoint!

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 20, 2000.


Ten years ago my father ended up with an old Aladdin for nothing. He gave it to me. I could get all the parts f/Aladdin. We opted for conversion to electric. It is one of my favorite electric...we have a reg. Aladdin, too. I am sure you can get any part you need. DW

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), December 20, 2000.

Most newer models all use model 23 parts--wicks, mantles, etc. Lehman's carries all model 23 parts as well as older models. If the knob that turns the wick up and down is still on a lamp, that is usually where the model number is inscribed. New parts are not cheap, though. If you can get a Lehman's catalog, or check out their online site. I went to Lehman's in Kidron Ohio about a month and a half ago and boy, do they have the Aladdins!!

-- Hannah Maria Holly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), December 20, 2000.

The only parts you will probably need are wicks and mantels. Both are available for all of the common Aladdin lamps ever made. If you look up through the bottom of the lamp and can see a chimney-like tube that goes through the font up to the burner, you need the old-style wick. If there is no air tube from the bottom then you need the newer wick. There were two type of mantels for at least almost all Aladdin lamps. It's not a sure bet to go by the model number on the burner, because you can switch the gallery (the part the chimney and mantle fasten to) on older lamps to use the newer and cheaper mantels.

Newer wicks and mantels are about half the cost of the old style.

==>paul

-- paul (p@ledgewood-consulting.com), December 20, 2000.


I talked with someone in lamps at Lehman's today. He felt like I could get the parts I might need except for some of the very early lamps. They have been making these for 90 yrs! He also said the parts that I could not get any longer go to lamps that are so rare that they are hard to find and very very expensive. This man was very nice and referred me to the Aladdin Knights web site. I looked at that and found a link that showed a photo gallery of most if not all the styles and colors. It also gave the dates of manufacture and lots of good advice for the beginner collector.

I've never collected anything before. I think these lamps are really beautiful. I might be able to get into this with some more research. I love the nostalgia of the older ones.

Thanks for all the good info. If anyone has anything to add I'd like to hear it!

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), December 20, 2000.



I got very lucky last year and got an old Aladdin table style lamp at a garage sale for (get this) $5.00. I bought a new chimney for it (there's non-Aladdin chimneys that are less than the $19 they wanted for one) and a couple of new mantles and that was pretty much it. Of course, we fried the first mantle right away b/c we couldn't wait long enough for it to "warm up." Duh.... I keep mine in the kitchen and have a at least a half dozen regular old oil lamps around, too. And I have enough candles for an ashram! It's great this year for Christmas! Merry and bright. Next year I will probably be using them in lieu of electricity, though!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), December 20, 2000.

Be very careful using a non-Aladdin chimney on an Aladdin lamp. Aladdin chimneys are expensive for a very good reason. They have to be made out of a special glass that will take the heat. Normal glass can shatter when it gets that hot.

==>paul

-- paul (p@ledgewood-consulting.com), December 21, 2000.


Good point. True. This chimney was recommended to me by the dealer (who services ALaddin lamps). This is not your drug store variety that looks pretty over a candle. THanks for pointing this out.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), December 21, 2000.

Another possible source for you here. We are in the business of antique "collection" and restoration both for fun and profit, and one source I've found invaluable is Van Dykes Restorers. Their website is at www.vandykes.com I don't know if all their products are available there but they have a very good selection of lamp replacement parts in their catalogue, which is free for the asking. Worth noting that I have been very happy with these people and their products. The catalogue should sit by the "john" in any self respecting country home.Good luck and happy holidays!!!

-- dan b (dcbaker@2ki.net), December 21, 2000.

p.s. here: Van Dykes also has a toll free number 1 800 558 1234

-- dan b (dcbaker@2ki.net), December 21, 2000.


There is a store in Jefferson Texas called Goodpickin's or Goodpickings, they handle a considerable variety of Alladin lamps. You should be able to get the parts you need. They have a web site, try goodpickins.com or goodpickings.com or something along that line. Good Luck

Skip

-- Skip Workman (sworkman@tstc.edu), February 23, 2001.


Hey Denise! Just happened to think of a place to find parts. Last year Lil Dumplin and I were up in Amish country hav'n a "look see". WE stopped at a big Amish farm and they had a little buildin out in the side barnyard. It was a store for Lamps! Well, I'm a lamp freak and told Lil Dumplin I just HAD to stop and get some new wicks for a couple lamps I had that were kinda weird. Couldn't find'm anywhere else so went in there to look. Found what I needed and also a whole lot more! She had to drag me out of that place! They had bunches and bunches of Alladin stuff. I didn't get to buy anything for my Alladins but will most certainly go back this summer-or whenever I can convince Lil Dumplin I just can't live without some of those hard to find parts. Price were real reasonable too. So, my advice---If you have Amish around you-check'm out! The also had HOMEMADE CANDY, PIES AND CAKES! Bein's that I run a little sweeter blood than most normal people, I had to pass on all those goodies! I'm just waiting for Jesus Christ to heal me of this terrible disease so's I can eat what I really like! ole hoot. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 23, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ