Brass blow lamps mid-20^th century

Instruction manual for kerosene vapour apparatus 1969

The South Solitary lighthouse was fuelled by kerosene that was vapourised into gas and then burned in a mantle. The manual provides the instructions for operating the Ford Schmidt kerosene vapour apparatus, which performed this function. The hand-held lamps were used to light the mantle via the subflame chamber.  The manual warns, “Keep the blowlamp flame away from the 3 air tubes of the mixing chamber or the flame will strike back through the tubes in an explosive action”!

The manual also contains instructions for the time recorder that was introduced in 1957 to monitor the lightkeeper on watch. It states sternly that “there have been cases in recent years in which the failure of a manned light has been due to the failure of a lighthouse keeper rostered for duty to keep an adequate watch on the light … on another occasion a relieving lightkeeper was found asleep on duty.” The time recorder was fitted with recording tape and keepers had personal keys that they had to insert half-hourly to stamp their number and the time, thus recording their presence in the lantern room.

Brass and metal blowtorch. Primus on top of tank. Used to light mantle for South Solitary Island optic. The optic was run by kerosene until it was converted to electricity through a generator. The optic was manned until 1976 when it was automated and the keepers removed. Refer also item #12.055.