Pellon Works - Halifax - June 13 (permission visit)

[mr beardy]

Willis & Bates dates back to the 1800s, moving to Halifax in the last few years of that century to take advantage of the engineering opportunities offered by the textile industry in the region. The current factory, named the Pellon Works, was built in Reservoir Road and was completed in 1900. Initially, the company made spun-metal parts for the textile industry but they soon diversified into making parts for other industries, particularly those of the gas and the rapidly developing electrical industries of the time. There is a possibility that one of the company’s founders, Alfred Bates, was responsible for the design and manufacture of the military steel helmet, although this is unsubstantiated at present.At the end of World War I, Willis & Bates diversified further and became involved in the manufacture of parts for Petromax paraffin pressure lamps and lanterns. In 1925 they started making lamp and lantern parts for the Tilley company, a relationship which lasted until 1938 when Willis & Bates began manufacturing and selling lanterns on their own.The Vapalux pressure lamp bears a close resemblance with the Tilley lamp, in the way the burner works and how the mantle is attached.The Vapalux pressure lamp got a real boost when the Second World War started, as it was then issued as standard to the British army. This boost was enormous, and Willis & Bates produced up to 2000 lamps and lanterns per week.In 1946, Willis & Bates began an association with Aladdin Industries of Greenford who marketed their output under the name ‘Bialaddin’ – thus the ‘Vapalux’ trade-name largely disappeared other than for some lanterns sold direct to the Army. Aladdin Industries of Greenford were also responsible for the development of the Bialaddin range of heater/radiators as well as the T10 and T20 table lamps, which rivalled the equivalent Tilley products of the time. In 1968, the association between Willis & Bates and Aladdin Industries of Greenford ended and Willis & Bates resumed the sale of their lanterns and the name ‘Vapalux’ re-emerged.
Until 2010, Vapalux lanterns were being made at the Pellon Works in Halifax. Although in 1997, Willis & Bates ceased trading, another local company, Bairstow Brothers (1985) Limited bought the rights to make the lanterns. Vapalux (and Bialaddin lamps and lanterns), continue to deserve a reputation for being well-designed and engineered as well as being totally reliable in use.In early 2010, after the British army started to purchase battery lanterns instead and did not renew the contract, the Vapalux Brand and the tooling and IP rights for its manufacture were sold to a Korean Manufacturer for an undisclosed sum. All manufacturing will be transferred to the new owner and not continued in Great Britain.


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[dannyday58218195]

looks like a quality splore mate, loving the industrial techy stuff

[boxerheaven]

great pics as always jono :)

[Clough]

Ohhhhh fuck thats ace. Kind of glad its a permission visit must mean its secure. Looks banging well done

[jST]

raw splore bimblebex

[mr beardy]

Jpeg m8

[ERNIE99_UK]

great to see the machinery in there. Its a shame the manufacturing went abroad- If you want a brand new british made pressure lamp now then you have to buy a tilley ( i own a load of them).