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What’s this?

#1

any ideas on what this is? I’ll give you a few hints,

  1. it’s much older than you, trust me!..:wink:

  2. no, it isn’t an “ink-well”.

  3. it’s from circa 1936 A.D. in London, UK.

  4. it was used in the jewellery trade.

  5. I can still use it today!

  6. I can still use it in my setting-bench!

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this is it’s great-great-grand child.:wink:

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you were right it’s an ultra, mini-alcohol lamp! in fact, it belonged to my Dear Father who owned a jewellery factory and was a Diamond Polisher in London,UK.

It has a low heat, he used it to heat the shellac to hold a diamond crystal ready for bruiting, or starting to prepare to form the first stages of diamond polishing a “girdle”.

My Dad didn’t want a high-heat, as the shellac could have got burned. As the shellac was only to be finger-warm, he could still finger-form the shellac around the diamond. If the shellac was HOT, he’d be totally unable to hold & work the syropy-mixture!

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For obvious reasons: I was unable to hold the iPhone, his own shellac stick and above all watch out for the flame!

Yes, the shellac stick was his @ circa 1936!

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Hoping you appreciated this little English history lesson.

Gerry, on my iPhone

4 Likes
#2

It looks like a counterweight for determining what a precious metal weighs.

My guess,

Lorraine

#3

interesting guess, but sorry, it’s not the right one! The actual height is only 1.81 inches, just a little device that is still good to use after 84 years!

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”gerrysdiamondsettingessays.blogspot.com”

Gerry, on my iPhone

#4

I’ve head of these but never seen one before. Thank you for sharing!

#5

An alcohol heating device. I still use a similar one for wax work with dental picks
Regards RLW

#6

Hi
It is spirit lamp .Heating device using for mount a ring or jewel on wooden stick with help of

Lacquer for setting

#7

Hi RWade1
This little alcohol lamp has a smaller flame, as compared to the larger lamp. Certain operations require little flames, hence lower temperatures.
Why the need for a wider flame? aka higher temperature. “Wax-work” needs more of a delicate and more precise heating, not burning!

I’m finding now that I now have four heating sources. My electric-pen with a manually desired heat.

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Battery-operated wax-pen, this has two temperatures; on & off…;(
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now my Fathers’, low-flame alcohol-lamp!

It’s better to have a variety, than to ruin your wax-design because of a too much of a higher heat source?

”gerrysdiamondsettingessays.blogspot.com”

Gerry, on my iPhone

#8

@gerrylewy18 oh my goodness. I use exactly the same four. NOW if I just had your experience and TALENT I be in great shape! Problem is I started way too late and at 76 there isn’t time to catch up. I really do appreciate your essays.
Regards RLW

#9

That little lamp is a heckuva lot more stylish than the cheap heat gun I use for the same purpose! :+1::+1:

#10

that little lamp is even more “secure” for one thing is there is a screw-top cover! The cover prevents undo evaporation of ‘methyl hydrate’ basically it has a tighter lid. Glad you like this 83 year old lamp!

”gerrysdiamondsettingessays.blogspot.com”

Gerry, on my iPhone