Hello friends, I took some photo's of this little french alcohol stove. The text on top reads; RéCHAUD FEUTRé BRULANT A L'ALCOOL, GARANTI INEXPLOSIBLE and the name, L'HIRONDELLE. This more or less translates in "Felted heater burning alcohol, garantied not explosable, the Swallow". Just like my Pigeon (Dove) lamp, the fueltank is filled with some sort of felt, making it non-explosive (they claim). Vive la France!
Hi Wim, I too like Lampes Pigeon: https://classiccampstoves.com/posts/56567 https://classiccampstoves.com/posts/56526 Best Regards, Kerophile.
Hi Wim, I really like those old alcohol stoves. I've a couple of Rochesters (spirit lamp) that are smaller and go with a chafing dish. They do put out a lot of heat for their size. Would the felt be used for retaining the fuel? I know in one of mine it has a wick wrapped around the inside bottom of the stove. The other has a wick to pull fuel up to the burner. Best, Rick
Hi George, yes! They are beauties! I have not yet tried to light mine, but will do so in the near future. It is a nice little collection you have, I like the one with the build-in lighter, never seen before! Another french "light" I have is a foldable candle holder made for military use: it is a "Lampe de tente" later called a trench-lamp, official name "Lampe Monjardet" model 1910. Offcourse it is not using liquid fuel, only candles I fear this is a hobby without limits... Regards, Wim
Hi Rick, I think the felt has more to do with the safety claims the makers make. I suppose the felt simply keeps the fuel from pouring out rapidly when a lamp or heater fell over. Some sort of retainer if you like, like a sponge that can contain a lot of water yet one has to squeeze it to let go the water. Hope this blablah makes sense Regards, Wim
Hi ! Sorry to dig this old post out.... This type of stove is commonly known as "pigeon stove". It is by far the only kind of classic stove known by everybody, here in France, as we can find it in almost every familly. Nowadays some of them are used as flower pot.... Few years ago they were still in use in some physic laboratories. I never tried to light one ! Maybe I should
