This is my Petromax Aladdin 828 300 cp. It has 108 scratched in the base ,which I believe is October 1938 it has a rapid pre heater tap that dates from that time ,I would like confirmation on that . The person I bought it from who was in his 70's told me that the lamp was his father's, it was given to him when he got married and that it was the main source of light for them as they had no electric at that time . I have replaced all the rubber seals with new viton pips that I cut myself . The packing glands were asbestos so I changed those out for new graphite packing . I replaced the old jet and needle with new modern parts direct from Petromax Germany , unfortunately the lamp didn't like these parts, I used three new needles as they either bent or broke , I put the old parts back in and it works ? The only part that is causing issues is the j tube as the threads have worn ,I have used a thin layer of exhaust paste to help keep the adjusting nuts tight , so I'm in the look for a replacement . Because the hood was squashed it wasn't allowing for a proper burn of fuel but when I used a anchor hood it burnt ok ,I can only think it was due to air flow restriction ? At the moment it has a Coleman 285 globe and I'm using cheap Chinese mantles they measure approx 7cm and they shape up nicely . Since taking these pictures I have fixed the hood and it burns good now . Thanks marten
Hi wim although it's working and presentable right now I still need to de coke the Preston loop a little more, when I received it there was so much carbon in the vapouriser that I had to really pull on it to get conducting rod free . You say that it's a rare lamp ,in your opinion how rare in the world of lamp collecting would this model be as I have no idea ? Thanks marten
With the red or blue Alladdin-Petromax label they were exclusive to the UK as far as I know and only sold here from 1937 to 1939. As a Petromax only labelled lantern manufacture could have extended a little either end but by 1941 the Rapid type was changed so however sold it was a 4 to maybe 5 year product of the late 1930s so not a common one to find. ::Neil::
@JEFF JOHNSON , @podbros thanks for the compliments . @Mackburner thanks very much for the extra info . I have been reading a little about these lamps in the forum about this model of lamp, some having a plate soldered over the 'Germany ' name or having 'foreign made' in place of . This one that I have has 'made in Germany' stamped in it would this little detail date it any better ?
See the answer of MacBurner. Lantern was only made a few years for export to the UK just before ww2. As you can understand the "Made in Germany" was not a good selling point just before or in the war and for this matter also directly after the war. Owners would dispose of any German related stuff easily and quickly I guess during those years.
Hi wim thanks for replying , yes I have read macburner's comment and he has explained what I was asking you about . Thanks again, marten
@ podbros yes the shade came with the lamp . There is no makers mark so I don't know if it's a genuine part ? Marten
Should be original, because nowadays you won't get those enameled shades any more (except from a Korean seller that I know of).
Nice lantern. Not so easy to find. It is quite often that the newly-made Petromax-branded parts might not exactly fit into these older, pre-War lanterns.
@Martin K. Thanks for the confirmation . @MYN thanks for the compliment . Yes I have found that the modern parts are a little different ,I thought I could use some of the spares that I have but the j tube and inner hood are different , I also believe the lead seals are a fraction smaller ? I have seen some bad 828 in eBay but not sure I want to pay the price they're asking for just for a parts lamp. Thanks marten
