In lighthouses, they put a small tank over the Argand lamp to preheat the lard oil so it would flow like whale oil.
very true. 
The pre-heater cup on the generator does the same technique to the heavier fuel oils, ( kerosene, Diesel, etc/) so it can flow thinner & atomize easier at the nozzle to mix with air & burn in the mantle.
I agree, especially if your on holidays far away from home.
More Updates today, August,01,2015 in the OP above:
Another minor update, August,5,2015 in OP. (Multi-fuel Lantern section of the build coming to life.)
Got to be one of the wildest builds I've seen. Really very inventive and well constructed.
Thanks OL.
i wonder sometimes if i spend to much time, work, money, and thinking into these projects. Its probably because i always plan to make use of my builds so i want them to be useful, reliable, & functional.
I been a bit out-of-commission for the last week, i ended up fracturing a finger from a work injury, and been incapacitated with the use of one and a half hands. I will try to get more completed on this project as soon as possible, also still waiting for some parts i ordered to arrive.
- DB
NEW Updates on the Apocalypse Light for the 3rd annual contest in the OP!
now with the frame coming together, the LED flashlight section functional, and more.
Looking really nice :beer:
Wow. Theres some very clever people here. Amazing work.
Super cool! I love it.
You just as well give it to me. Seeing how the world will be coming to a end on September 23rd.
Awesome pics. I love your junk collection too. Killer stuff there too.
Despite all explanations, dunno how and what it all does and will do, but it is a beautiful attractive thing in the making!! :-)
my thoughts too! will it both burn the fuel for light, and generate power for the flashlight somehow?
Basically is a multi-purpose light source, (many light sources actually) that can be powered by everything from Lithium Ion cells, NiHh cells, various fuels, etc. it will at the same time generate power to charge its own LED Flashlight/lantern, LiIon cells, charge other batteries, charge cellphones, radios, etc. from its own light power, and during the day it will charge its LiIon built-in flashlight even when not running by using the sun. sort of a self-contained/sustainable multi light source with charging capabilities.
kind of like that, it can burn nearly any type of fuel for generating light, + charging the built in flashlight/Lantern, and use any light light to generate charging power at the same time. sort of a meld of many technologies form today and the past.
wow, that is an awesome design\build, very uniqe, and original, bravo.
Very nice!
Could you take pictures of the works, especially the burner?
just a photo of the burner/mantle head i used? i can if you wish. I believe it originally came from a 1950’s - 60’s Coleman 236 or 237 model, but unsure is it was a loose part in my junk bins for a few years.
EDIT: the burner head is the part in inset-image #4 in the below pic:
Wheres RBD when you need him? 