Paraffin heaters

Widely used for additional heat were paraffin heaters – Valor and Aladdin were the makes that I remember. The heaters were often round, often had a little window (made of mica) through which one could observe the flame on the round wick inside the chimney. One was not supposed to move the heaters while they were alight – however, I remember my mother once doing so, the catch which held the hinged tower together becoming undone . . .  a disaster was averted, but only just. Paraffin was either Esso Blue or Aladdin Pink (might have been a green one too) and was bought from the local hardware shop (one took one’s paraffin container to have it filled) or was delivered by a paraffin man; the paraffin men often used to sell soap, washing powder and other hardware items as they did their rounds. It was said that if a gallon of paraffin was used, a gallon of water vapour was produced. Some heaters had rotating adjusters at the top which controlled the heat coming out; kettles were sometimes placed on the top. The paraffin heaters produced both heat and smell!