The Base Camp

Great news, Paraffin Extra will be back in stock on Tuesday 3rd September for collection and delivery. Electricity prices are going up making paraffin cooking and heating even more economical. Order now ready for the Autumn and get the best paraffin available delivered to your door.

UPDATE:- Unloading now, its arrived..!

For a short period in the 1990's there was a carry case available from Optimus for the stove. These cases are now very sought after and rare to find.
To help our customers protect and enjoy their we have commissioned a batch of similar cases to sell at £24.95 shown on the right in the picture.
For our Facebook followers who are interested in one of these cases just mention you saw it on here and we will give you a special offer of £19.95 plus p/p

Last week our landlord contacted us and advised they will be increasing our rent by 11.5% from immediate effect. Also, as they had omitted to perform a review two years ago they would be backdating the increase by two years and we now also own the back rent.
We have done our best to hold prices down for years now, cutting back wherever we can but this debt burden means something will have to give.
We apologise if one of your favorite items increases but be assured we will not be jetting off on holiday with the proceeds..!

Friday was in interesting day. Commissioned by a film company to ‘wrangle’ four Bialaddin lamps and several hurricane lamps on set in preparation for a production starting on the 18th August..!
Picture of three pressure lamps done, one to go and three of the six hurricanes burning safe and bright…!

Health and safety warning "Do not try this at home kids..!"
One of our customers cooking salami for a lunchtime sandwich down under in OZ. A Valor Junior #55 back in service with parts from us.
We would not recommend a frypan this size but for a hot Salami, (or bacon), sandwich they are forgiven!

Hooray, by appeasing the internet fairies our telephone is back up and running again..!
If the internet ran on kero we would be fine.....

Our Cloud phone line is down at present. We still have internet connection, so you can contact us via e-mail while we get the phone line problem sorted out.

Further news....
We need to attend a routine hospital appointment on the morning of Tuesday 2nd July so the office will be closed until 1pm.
Thank you for your understanding, 'normal' service will be resumed in the afternoon !

We are introducing a new telephone system on Monday morning. Hopefully all will go smoothly but in the event of a hitch our line will be down for a short period in the morning of Monday 1st July
Unfortunately the system is run using 'electrickery' and not kerosene so we have no idea how it all works, fingers crossed for Monday....!

Yesterday was our Derbyshire Great Ridge walk. A circular tour from Castleton to the summit of Mam Tor, then along the ridge to Back Tor and finally Lose Hill before descending to Castleton.
A fantastic day which started with the purchase of a complete and clean Bialaddin #315 from a Bric a Brac shop in Castleton.
It was hanging in the window as we passed by and despite being on holiday we couldn't pass it by!
We couldn't manage the Tilley Guardsman or X246b the proprietor excited pulled out for us so if you are passing by there you might find them..

Hope the previous group who were up here having a few beers and a barbeque enjoyed the countryside as well.
Don't worry guys, we cleared up your BBQ and rubbish on the summit and carried it all back down to the recycling bins at the bottom...!
Couldn't reach the beer cans as you had thrown them onto the ledge below. :-((

Afternoon scramble up the the 'Trinnacle', three columns of Millstone Grit standing above Dovestones Reservoir.
Fantastic views and wonderful scenery.

Now relaxing with a beer by lamplight outside the Pod over the lake...Perfect.

Great day up at Malham Cove and the limestone pavement.

Today and tomorrow we remember Operation Neptune on D Day 1945.
Those who took part from all services and those who lost their lives from all countries.
In the warehouse today and tomorrow we will light these two lamps in memory. A small German Frowo #50 lamp and a British Pleco candle lamp dated 1943.
Though often referred to as 'trench lamps' no lights would ever have been shown in forward trenches. These sturdy little lamps would have been used further behind the lines to navigate the battlefield at night.

Having a great time, good music, great beer and mead, thanks to Iceni Meadery.

If you are out and about near Peterborough today call in to Alfric Square PE2 7JP. Today is the Iceni Meadery Summer Fair with music, crafts, beer and of course ..mead..!
We will be there with a stall of hurricane lamps, spares, fuel and big smiles..
Call by, you won’t regret it ..!

We always suggest to customers that they drain all the fuel from their lamps, stoves and heaters if they are not using them again in the next day or two.
Many forget or don't think it is necessary.....
Today we serviced a Petromax 500cp and had to drain the fuel left in the tank. With a cupful of rather stale fuel came a load of grey slime in the consistency of yoghurt.....!
Paraffin is Hygroscopic, it attracts water from the air in a fuel tank or the atmosphere if the tank is vented. Water is heavier than paraffin so sinks to the bottom
Shaking the item in transit mixes the paraffin/water into a slimy emulsion. This clogs NRVs, rots pump cups and if sucked up into a vapouriser burns inside, clogging it up.
Every wondered why that nice looking tin hurricane lamp has a base with more holes than a teabag? Well now you know.!

Please note that after seven years without a break, moving the business, Covid lockdowns and helping our customers we are taking a one week holiday...!
We will be closed from 4pm on Friday 7th June and re-open at 10am on Monday 17th June.
E-mails will be answered on our return but there may be a delay as we catch up on the backlog.

Please pass this on, we will be closing at 4pm on Friday 16th to travel to the Peak district for the weekend.
Taking some lamps with us to hopefully have a nigh time walk by lamplight.!
Back again refreshed on Monday....

Samuel Heath & Sons Thermidor 'Belge' family oil lamp renovated back to working condition after many years of storage using a wick and chimney from us.
The customer made some small repairs themselves and polished the lamp base before fitting the new parts. Now the lamp can be used and enjoyed again.

We have recently acquired a quantity of original German Petromax spares. Mostly packings, excenters, conducting rods, lower vapourisers and small parts. A selection is pictured below.
We will be listing these on our Petromax page alongside the modern Far Eastern produced parts until all sold.
Check the page next week, a rare oppertunity for rare original parts.!

Today is "Blue Monday" allegedly the most depressing day of the whole year.!
But not for us and our customers, our consignment of lamp and stove parts that had been out at sea since last September finally arrived...!
It did not send us postcards of its travels but it has arrived safely anyway and is now receiving our love and attention.
'Goodies' include replacement glass for #930 & 220A lanterns, glass for 200cp lanterns, spindles for #80 stove, reserve lid for #210 stove and much, much more!

We wish all our customers and friends a happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.
"May your fount never run dry"

The energy crisis is not new, in 1947 Hurricane lamps were vital in the shops during the Winter.!
At least it seems stewed steak and Allbran were not in short supply!

A seasonal picture of Veritas Pax hurricane lamps adorning a vintage lorry at a Christmas Fair this month. Wicks supplied by Base Camp of course.!

When you have to go, you have to go...!
What better way to light and warm the 'smallest room', our customers are certainly the keenest lamp users around.!

We have been nice and warm in the warehouse today, tested these five beauties after servicing. Now ready to be posted up on the Webpages ready for Christmas..!

On the lantern side the great news is that we have new #2799 handles in stock for the classic Optimus #930. produced in stainless steel they are 16.95 each.
Our Base Camp 7" vapouriser for Tilley lamps has been on test this week and as expected the results with Paraffin Extra are stunning!
In stock at 45.95 with two free Base Camp #164 mantles they are the very best vapouriser available.