is this an original airstream heater?

[greenrig]

and kerosene? picture is of a 53 FC. vent pipe is not pictured but vent hole is there. you can see the filler cap at the top and some kind of fuel filter at the bottom.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by greenrig

Is this an original airstream heater? ... and kerosene? picture is of a 53 FC. vent pipe is not pictured but vent hole is there. you can see the filler cap at the top and some kind of fuel filter at the bottom.

Yes, its the "Byam Burner". Here's a restored one in the 1949 19' Trailwind on the opening page:

49Trailwind

[greenrig]

thank you, this is inspiring. looks very cool with the flame in the little window and nicely restored. i'll have to give it a once over to see if i can get it going.

[greenrig]

i need some help understanding this heater. seems like there should be a wick but there isnt. so the fuel (kero/heating oil?) is gravity fed into a filter, then into a dial control which seems to control the amount of oil dropping into the burner. but the burning chamber has no wick? or is mine missing parts? dont tell me the oil just burns in the bottom of the barrel!

[Jammer]

I believe they're called "pot" burners. The dial control should be attached to a float which regulates the height of the pool of oil. My house had one once, in the 1950s and 1960s, made by the Junger Co. Called "Junger burners" by the local farmers, they were sought after in that era as an improvement over coal and wood heat.

I have seen some in operation in farm houses as recently as four years ago.

[greenrig]

i guess its not missing parts then. just a burning pool of oil. very simple concept. amazing to me.
what oil would you use in this heater?
to start, would you just throw a match down in the pool of oil?
and climate control seems a bit crude huh?

[greenrig]

would like to bring this question to surface about type of fuel for this heater. after asking around, seems like 'heating oil' is pretty much kerosene which also burns like diesel. i'd like to use 'lamp oil' but not sure about any of these. anyone with any 'byam burner' experience? thanks