Aladdin Model A Sold
in 1932 and 1933
Style sold in 1932 and 1933
Style sold in 1933
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The Aladdin model A represents the first Aladdin glass table lamp
and the first side draft burner sold under the Aladdin name. Though
the lamp was in production for a little less than 2 years
there are a few variations in the glass base as Aladdin experimented
with how to best attach the stem to the lamp bowl.
While the burner reused
the model 12 gallery and flame spreader, the burner base
was completely new. Once in production, customer complaints
came back about how difficult it was to install the wick.
As a result of customer complaints the burner base was redesigned to
make re-wicking it easier and the model B burner was born. The
model A burner tooling was shipped to the UK where it was
reworked to become the model 14 "Super Aladdin" burner.
Burner:
The model A burner is the first side drought burner
used on Aladdin brand lamps. The advent of the side drought burner
allowed Aladdin to manufacture glass lamps and ushers in a world
of fancifully brightly coloured lamps. The 1933 "Colonial"
amber crystal lamp (#106) used a bronze plated model A burner.
All other model A lamps took a nickel plated burner.
The side drought burner burned brighter than centre
draft burners and the mantel would come up to temperature quicker
making it an "instant light lamp". This spelled the doom
of the Aladdin centre drought lamp when the model 12 was discontinued. |
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Variations:
Table - "Venetian style" clear glass that was
painted then fired in one of 4 pastel colours or left clear .
"Colonial" style clear, green or
amber coloured glass.
Fount - none
Oil pot - none
Floor lamp - none
Transition (very early lamps) - None identified. However
there seemed to be 2 variations of the outer wick tube and
2 methods of attaching the foot to the bowl on the "venetian"
style lamps. It could be there is a early and a late model A "Venetian"
lamps.
Accessories:
Bug screen: Late canister type with the downward pointing
fitting fingers.
Wick cleaner: Wide skirt brass with curved bottom. Labeled
"Aladdin WICK CLEANER". The "L" and the "D"s are shorter
than the "A" in Aladdin.
Shade ring: A return to the gallery mounted three arm shade
ring. A 10 inch holder was available for the glass shade and a
14 inch holder for the paper shades.
Shades: 701 glass shade and several versions of 14 inch
paper shades.
Documents (pdf):
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Note: The instructions
say to put salt over a sooty mantle to help burn off the
soot. Be advised that the salt causes deep pitting
green oxidation of the gallery and burner. I
advise against doing this. |
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The model A burner gearing brought the rack gear for the
wick riser inside the outer wick tube for the first time.
The model A burner was unsuccessful because the sheet metal
encasing the adjuster gear has sharp edges that tends to hang
up the wick making it difficult to install a wick. |
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The model A wick adjuster was the first to be inserted into
the burner from the top. It was mounted to the wick and the
two tails of the wick were pushed down between the inner and
outer wick tubes of the model A burner. Unfortunately the
side with the gearing tended to get hung up on the gearing
cover.
This wick adjuster was also used on the model 14 burner. |
Outer wick tubes, left to right: Model B, early
Model A, Model 12
Early model A outer wick tube |
Late model A outer wick tube
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There are two styles of model A outer wick tube. The one
shown left is the early style. The bottom outer wick tube
opening fits outside the outer wick tube on the burner as
does the model 12 outer wick tube. Note model 12 and early
model A outer wick tubes are not interchangeable.
The newer version of the outer wick tube is shown on the
left. The bottom opening fits inside the outer wick tube
on the burner. The new style was used unchanged in the model
14 burner.
Early Model A outer wick tube is in the left, model 12 on the
right.
Note these two twist in opposite directions to lock.
There is a version of the model 12 outer wick tube that twists the
same direction as the model A tube so this should not be used as
a diagnostic.
The easiest way to differentiate between the early
style of model A outer wick tube and the model 12 outer wick tube
is by measuring the diameter of the bottom opening. The model A
opening is 1-5/8ths inches in dia while the bottom opening of the
model 12 outer wick tube is 1-1/2" in diameter.
Aladdin needed an entirely now filler cap for glass
lamps. The threaded insert recessed into the filler opening of the
glass model A glass lamp and glued into place. The new cap threaded
into the insert and is usually referred to as the recessed filler
cap. This arrangement was also used on the early model B glass lamps.
"Venetian" 1932 - 1933
Cat # 100, satin white finish |
All lamps were made of clear glass, painted
then fired. They are available in clear glass,
white satin finish, green, peach and old rose. Though this
style was in production for slightly less than 2 years, multiple
molds were used for the glass lamp base as Aladdin experimented
with the best way to attach the foot to the lamp bowl.
All fillers and burners were nickel plated.
Caution: The paint fired onto the lamp
can be easily scratched so use care in cleaning. Also
do not subject lamps with feet fused onto the bowl with
sudden temperature changes. They have been known to
crack at the connection. When washing always use water close
in temperature to that of the lamp.
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"Colonial" 1933
Cat # 106 Amber Crystal |
Though people
tend to think of this lamp as the first model B lamp it
is listed in the May1, 1933 Aladdin Dealer's price list as
a model A lamp. This lamp received the first model
B burners when that burner was introduced so it can be considered
as both a Model A lamp and as the first glass Model B lamp.
Both burners are equally correct on this lamp base.
This lamp was Aladdin's first use of coloured
glass. Catalogue # 104 was clear glass, #105 was green glass and
#106 was amber glass. All model A lamps except for
#106 used nickel plated burners. # 106 used a bronze
plated burner.
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Wakeman. All rights reserved.
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LLC
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