The Akron Lamp Co., Akron, Ohio, introduced this Model No. 15 radiant heater circa 1935. The 1 gallon tank inside the lower rear of the unit is filled by unscrewing the pump on the back (right image) and removing the filler plug below the pump. This instant lighting heater is advertised to run for 8-15 hours on a gallon of gasoline. The short nickel plated tube in the lower right side of the heater is a safety drain cup that can be emptied. Randy Hayes restored this heater to working condition.
The Albert Lea Foundry Co., Albert Lea, Minnesota, made this Queen Radiant Heater No. 60 that was patented in 1926 (lower image). This heater is in Logan Bourdon’s collection. The Albert Lea Foundry Co. also made camp stoves and the water heater below. The Queen name was later used by the Queen Stove Works, the successor company to the Albert Lea Foundry Company (McRae).
The Albert Lea Foundry Co. also made this Queen Water Heater Model 266 in the same period as the radiant heater above. Gasoline from a separate tank enters the heater above the letter A in the lower image. The fuel-air mixture burns at the slits cut across the burner, above B in the lower image, thereby heating the water in the coils above before it leaves by a pipe (not shown). Burned gases leave the chamber at the top middle and are carried away in a larger pipe (also not shown). This water heater is in Logan Bourdon’s collection.
The American Gas Machine Co. made this Radiant Heater No. One. All 7 of the ceramic radiants are original and only required cleaning along with the rest of the restoration. The large gas tank is behind the door in the base of the unit. Harold Porter bought this heater at a farm sale; he found it in a three-hole outhouse!
AGM made this No. Six Ready Glo heater (bottom & middle images) circa 1930. The PAT. APLD. FOR (bottom image) is likely for their instant lighting patent that was filed on May 3, 1929, and granted on April 5, 1932. The heater is finished in green and black crackel lacquer and has a polished 14″ diameter aluminum reflector. The fuel valve is on the right side of the heater at the top of the 3 pint fount (upper right image). This heater is in Cain Kremitzki’s collection.
This No. 9 radiant heater also appeared in an AGM catalog 37, dated 1932, with The No. Six heater above. Note the built-on pump mounted on the right side of the case (lower image). A combination fuel level and pressure gauge is mounted at the bottom of the pump. The tank is accessed by sliding it out of the case to the right or by lowering the door in the front. The heater is finished in dark green wrinkled baked enamel while the side handles, legs, and trim are finished in antique copper. This heater is in Cain Kremitzki’s collection.
The Companion Heater Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia, made this 5C heater attachment for their 5C stove. The stove’s silent burner heats the domed heat diffuser that is suspended where the third stove leg would be inserted. The other two support leg supports now hold the aluminum reflectors. The lower reflector is stamped Companion. The heater was advertised to run for 4 hours with two pints of kerosene in the tank. This heater is in Iain Sedgman’s collection.
Erich & Graetz AktienGesellschaft, Berlin, Germany, introduced this Model 85N heating and cooking unit in 1939. This appliance, in Juan Caiti’s collection, has 3 ceramic mantles arranged in a triangle inside the similarly shaped generator loop. The fount, which is the same as used on Petromax lanterns, holds 1 3/4 pints of kerosene and will burn for 7 hours. A ring to hold pots on the top cooking surface is missing.
This Petromax Model 1500 lantern can also be converted to a radiant heater by removing the mantle and inserting an accessory stainless steel basket. This lantern-heater, in Marc-Andre Müller’s collection, was manufactured after WWII when the company was located in Altena, West Germany. An outer screen that adds to the heat output was opened for this image.
This Petromax Model 829 has been outfitted with a reproduction heater adapter made by collector Roman Auf der Maur who made a few for friends. This one is in Erik Leger’s collection. The adapter is used in lieu of a mantle to maximize heat output.
J.A. Gamble Pty Ltd made this Cosyglo kerosene fueled heater in New South Wales, Australia, probably in the late 1950s-early 60s based on advertising. The tank (middle image) is accessed from the back. The valve (not seen) controlling the heater is on the left side of the heater. The four ceramic radiants are heated by four burners at their base (bottom image). This heater is in Iain Sedgman’s collection.
The Gloria Light Co. of Australia (Melbourne) made this radiant heater with the same blue paint finish with gold accent as on table and wall lamp models that Albert White has seen. This heater, in Martin French’s collection, includes the wire mesh heating element (right image) and has a height adjustment screw on the front of the fount.
Model 156 Radiateur Succes was sold from the mid-1920’s until the early 1930’s by two French companies, Louis Compain et Cie, Paris, then Guenet & Abbat. It is designed to be a free standing heater or wall mounted, as seen here. The metal guard is strong enough so that the reflector can be pointed vertically when free standing so it can be used as a cooker. This heater is in Neil McRae’s collection.
This heater is stamped with the Hasag brand, but we don’t know when it was made or the company name at the time of manufacture. The heater, in Agtas Tahsin’s collection, has a silent burner and uses gasoline or a gasoline blend. It was used by the German air force.
This Veritas brand bowl fire (radiant heater) apparently was made by Samuel Heath & Sons, UK, based on similarities to a Thermidor brand lantern made by them. This bowl fire is in Neil McRae’s collection.
Aktiebolaget B.A. Hjorth, Sweden made this Model 110 Primus heater. This heater, in Dane Gernecke’s collection, lacks the wire guard and a draught shield that sits on the alcohol cup. By inserting standard legs in lieu of the reflector and heating cone supports, the appliance becomes a tripod stove with a silent burner. The date code AN (1949) is stamped on the bottom.
Aktiebolaget B.A. Hjorth made the Model 155R (Radiator only) heater on the left, while the 155R heater on the right is marked Made in Norway so it was presumably made by Hovik Verk in that country under license. These heaters, in Bo Ryman’s collection, have silent burners; the heating cones and reflectors are supported by the tripod legs.
These Model 158 Primus heaters differ in the reflector finish. Model 158/2 (left) is nickel plated aluminum, but is stamped 158/15 on the bottom and is date stamped 1939. Model 158/3 (right) is brass and is only stamped 158 and is date stamped 1947. These heaters are in Bo Ryman’s collection.
This Model 1012 Primus heater is date stamped 1931 and has a large 3.5 liter fount! This heater is in Bo Ryman’s collection.
The fount on this Model 1010 Primus heater holds nearly two pints of kerosene and will run for 7-8 hours on a filling. This heater, date stamped 1952, is in Ruedi Fischer’s collection.
This bowl fire was made by Imber Research, a British company. It is the same as a heater made under the Bialaddin name (compare to the bowl fire on the right below). This heater is seen here running on kerosene; the alcohol preheater with the wick and cup is just below the mantle. This heater is in Will Nelle’s collection.
Willis & Bates made these 3 versions of the Bialaddin F2700 bowl fire. Type 1 on the left has an air block and flat handle base (bottom) and a preheater fill spout (top). Type 2 (center) is as Type 1 but lacks the air block and spout. Type 3 (right) is as type 2 but has a dipped handle base. These bowl fires are in Neil McRae’s collection.
Johannesburg Metal Pressings is believed to have manufactured this Apex brand heater. This heater is in Alan Ford’s collection. The curved surface above the burner turns a strawberry red color when running, according to Alan. This piece is easily dislodged and needs to be cleaned of soot if the heater has not been running at full power.
This Kayen radiator, model HR 11, is in Jim Dick’s collection. It was made in Sydney and Melbourne, by W. Kopson & Co. and T.S. Nettleford & Sons respectively, between 1945 and circa 1955. Founts were usually polished brass not copper as seen on this model, which is sprayed with gold lacquer. The reflector is polished copper.
© 2000-2026 Terry Marsh