Camping gaz cycle lamps ever?

[Alan H Bradley]

The step from acetylene to battery (or even dynamo ) front lamps sounds like a backward step in brightness:

Has a 206 style cardtridge ever been used for cycle lamps? A pre-heat tube would presumbably be needed for cornering.

Or a model aircraft engine running on gas could drive a dynamo?

[wilbo]

Are you talking about the gas turbine engines from model aeroplanes? Don't these cost upwards of a grand? It sounds like another step backwards to attach fuel, a turbine engine and a mini generator to your bike to run a light, not to mention having to wear ear-defenders because of the deafening noise

[speedsixdave]

The step from acetylene to battery (or even dynamo ) front lamps sounds like a backward step in brightness:

Has a 206 style cardtridge ever been used for cycle lamps? A pre-heat tube would presumbably be needed for cornering.

Or a model aircraft engine running on gas could drive a dynamo?

These are two of the maddest ideas I've ever seen on this forum. I presume this is idle musing rather than a serious plan, but I would suggest that a B&M IQ fly driven by a SON or Shimano hub dynamo gives plenty of light with imperceptible resistance, and very little danger of blowing up in your face!

And no pre-heat tube necessary for cornering, either.

[hubgearfreak]

The step from acetylene to battery (or even dynamo ) front lamps sounds like a backward step in brightness:

Has a 206 style cardtridge ever been used for cycle lamps? A pre-heat tube would presumbably be needed for cornering.

Or a model aircraft engine running on gas could drive a dynamo?

replacing the extra effort of pedalling with a dynamo with fossil fuels does seem a bit counter-productive to me. perhaps we'll have bikes with petrol engines next to replace the effort of pedalling along at all?

[thirdcrank]

My dear old dad was keen on acetylene lamps - I never understood why. Around 1960 he bought an old one second-hand which I even refurbished in metalwork at school.

What a carry on. The best way I can describe using it is that it was a bit like pipe smoking - something I've only ever observed others doing. Settle down with plenty of time to faff, helps if there is a like-minded soul so you can have a bit of a chunter as well. Scrape out the bowl of your favourite briar / lamp and pack it with tobacco / calcium carbide. For lamp only, add water and screw top on. (I suppose there are pipes which some smokers use that are filled with water but I've led a sheltered life ) Light up. Take pleasure in the resulting ignition but you need to be very selfish about the effects of the fumes + smell on all around. (Older readers will remember the ad 'Oh - Old Holborn ... ) Refuse to listen to any suggestions that this is bad for you .... etc etc. Incidentally, the lamp has pride of place in the Thirdcrank garage as a reminder of my father, along with some of his other bits and pieces.

[DaveP]

Did it produce skeins of "solid" smoke as well as a smell?
Thats certainly the result of continuing to use an oxy-acetylene torch after the oxygen has run out

[abradleyInf]

I meant the little 3cc piston engines, although a plain gas lamp would be quieter.

My (old) idea was that primary batteries use a lot of energy to make and give a feeble lamp, so why not cut out the middle man (battery company, battery),
and have a bright lamp directly from fossil source, probably useing less fuel overall!!

Its only a mad idea cos you didnt think of it!!

[hamster]

Have you tried the latest LED ones? They have improved dramatically in the past two years.

[random37]

It's a nice idea, but the idea of a lamp that could also be a bomb rather puts me off.

[andrew_s]

I used to use an acetylene lamp for caving. They were quite popular, and gave a lot more light than the 4W Oldham miners lights that were the common alternative. They didn't focus to a beam at all, but that was more usually an advantage rather than a disadvantage. The old cycle lights had smaller generators, and I would imagine were more like the stinky cap lamps, giving about 2W bulb equivalent.
For a camping gas light, I would think that the main problem would be the fragility of the mantle. It's no good if your light goes out because you went over a pothole.

[Cunobelin]

It's a nice idea, but the idea of a lamp that could also be a bomb rather puts me off.

I don't know - next Chavriolet or BMW that "Misbehaves", lob it in through the open window - problem sorted.

I am all for equipment that has multiple applications.

[hubgearfreak]

My (old) idea was that primary batteries use a lot of energy to make and give a feeble lamp, so why not cut out the middle man (battery company, battery),
and have a bright lamp directly from fossil source, probably useing less fuel overall!!

Its only a mad idea cos you didnt think of it!!

i get your point of middle men. disposable batteries are incredibly inefficient
but your idea had the sunlight from millions of years ago converted into plant matter. then it's mined, stored, bottled and burned in your lamps.

why not cut out more middle men, and convert the beer/chocolate energy in your fridge via your body into the extra effort that a dynamo uses?

[essexman]

well if its middle men cutting out your after, set up your own power plant (solar, wind whaterver) to charge your own bike batteries

[abradleyInf]

I use a dynamo now, but the first lamps I was given were Ever Ready Front/Rearguard and were rubbish, were replaced with Pifco, still rubbish, then Nightriders
(would have been a bit better other than rear lamps turn off at random feature), then a dynamo, with power split equally wrong and rear, hence wondered about non-primary cell extra lamp for no streetlights: I thought of this a long time ago.