I got one of these stoves today - advertised as 'spares or repair' but unburned with virtually unmarked paintwork and a perfect transfer/decal. It cost more to post than to buy... No big deal, I suppose, judging by the lack of any other bids on eBay. What has got me a tad excited is that its got a little paint-brush type thingy clipped to one of the legs. This has a curved brass tube for the handle and the 'bristles' may be a wad of asbestos or something similar... At a guess, I'd say you dip it in meths, light it and then use it to light the burner. Is that what it's for? I bet these have all gone into that parallel universe (with all the outer burner caps, instructions and Tilley preheaters that are missing!) I can post an image later when my camera batteries are charged up - assuming anyone's interested and willing to help. Cheers, David
Hi Dave, Does it look like the thing shown on the bottom picture at this link? http:// If so the wick soaks up the meths & you should get a flame out the top that just outlasts the spirit burning in the cup. The idea was for this to light the burner as you start pumping at that critical moment.
Yes, Ross - that's exactly what it looks like. I'll be able to clip it in the correct place now! Are they scarce? Did they work? I've got the box with a very good label - one smallish defect only. Do you want a scan? Just to p**s me off totally, the label has illustrations of a Buflam heater and a Buflam Boiling Stove - both of which I've narrowly missed in new condition on eBay in the last couple of weeks Wickie crap I know, but I wanted them to go with the Buflam lantern, stove and blowlamp I already have as a little 'collection' Cheers
They're fairly common. They can get blocked & do nowt but generally they're good - especially on roarer burners. The label would be great if it's different to this one: http://www. (I have'nt forgotten your Tilley brochure - I'm local next week - also check out http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6146300208 )
"generally they're good - especially on roarer burners" - it's silent! "The label would be great if it's different to this one" - no, it's the same (and I've just looked at it more carefully - and I see the little doofah in the right place Tilley pamphlet - bloody hell OK, so I've got two Buflam stoves now - both silent, one painted gold and the other plain brass. Is that how they came? (or has the brass one been stripped?) There was a roarer version, too, I think. Maybe I ought to search the site...
Dunno mate. I'd guess they're original - I'm sure I've seen an umpainted one with decal. Definetly a roarer verson made. When the brochure comes I'll do the usual.
Oh how I laughed. I got a 210 with one of these (the one I'd sending to Hobo) and I was a bit miffed it didn't work. Might have been a different story if I'd fitted it the right way up I was going to say in my defence that in teh Ebay photo it was shown with fat end up so I left it like that... but then I realised that saying that made me sound even dumber. Hohum GC
"in the Ebay photo it was shown with fat end up" Don't worry too much OP, if you look at the items for sale section, someone is selling one of these with the spirit cup fitted upside-down - now that definitely won't work
Buflam No. 2 wickless - just like the piccy on the box... Yes Ross, you have seen a plain brass Buflam with the decal - it was mine! Courtesy of Chas. Twigg & Co., Ltd., Perry Barr, Birmingham
A great number of Ebay sellers have less than no clue what they're selling. Assuming the description of something posted in an e-bay action is accurate is a very great leap of faith. I surf Ebay for amusement and am almost never disappointed. One of my favorite Ebay "disclaimers" is: "I don't know very much about this thing, but I believe it to be very rare and valuable." Translation: "I've never seen one fo these things before, and have absolutely no idea what it might be, but I'm hoping some sucker will make it possible for me retire to The South of France in unimaginable wealth." The best one this year is the Esbit type burner some blockhead had a 'buy it now' price of $130.00 on. I spewed coffee all over my keyboard at that one. Delightful!! Nordicthug
I've always called these little gadgets tube igniters. They work alright, but here is a caveat: these things will retain flame for a bit after the meths are gone from the cup. That's the idea of course. But I once double primed where one of these was present, pouring new meths into the empty cup with resultant eruption of flame, because I didn't notice a bit of pale fire left in the tube igniter.
