Gday all, I’m Steve from Darwin in Australia and I’ve just recieved my pressure lamp from South Australia and I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask the question but I’d like to show pics of the lamp just the same. It’s a Solar because it says so on the knob but it doesn’t have any labels on the font to indicate the candle power. I’ve read that the 500cp models have 12cm glass diameters but this is only 11cm wide x 11cm high. The glass is from West Germany as shown in the pics but it may be a replacement all the same it seems to fit. All the other examples I’ve seen online have brand “Solar” on the font between the gauge and the pump. Another difference is that the starter bowl has a slightly different design to most of the ones I’ve seen here. I’m guessing this might be due to it being fairly old which might explain the lack of the quick-start jet. This may also be why there is no Logo and I’m aware that’s a lot of assumptions. I’ve seen a 200cp with similar preheat bowl but have been unable to find info on sizes. Mine’s 38cm as described by the seller. I’m already hooked on it just taking it apart while reading about Solars on this forum. It probably needs a kit put through it but the perishables seem in quite good nick (according to me who knows little about them). So once I’ve given the vertical vaporiser/preheater?? tube with the valve along with anything else prone to buildups an ultrasonic bath I think I’ll try to fire her up! The pump seems to seal pretty well, the pressure cap washer is intact but I was too scared to take it out and check it. I also didn’t pump it up when it was all together which might’ve been good in hindsight to see if there were any leaks. I have no idea what I’m doing but I absolutely love this thing already! Will follow along with a good teardown video of a petromax I found on YouTube. You may have noticed that I put a Coleman mantle on the ceramic that looks way too small but I’m thinking of using it until the Petromax one gets here. Apologies to the bored for the long winded passage, hi to all as a newly registered and HELP!! to anyone who might be able to assist in identifying this wonderful little piece of kit. Regards, Steve
Hi Steve, I have encountered one of these before here in South Africa. It is far less common than the other Solar with Petromax sized globe and cage. The only functional difference between the 350 and 500cp models is the jet and needle size. Often the cp rating will be stamped on one hex face of the jet. Whichever it is, it wants a large mantle. 500cp Coleman 11 or 1111 are suitable, as well as the pear shaped Petromax rosette types. The only adjustments that are fairly critical is that the needle must protrude through the jet by no more than 1mm in the Up position, and the air gap between the top surface of the jet and the J-tube should be about 14mm. Otherwise, if everything is tight and there are no leaks you are good to go. The needle height is adjusted by screwing the conducting rod in or out on the eccentric block on its bottom end and then locking the tiny square nut. To do that is a bit tedious as you have to unscrew the upper vaporiser and control cock from the lower vaporiser. On reassembly you have to make sure that the eccentric pin on the shaft engages the slot in the eccentric block. There is no valve as such, so the lamp is only pumped up at the end of pre-heating (soft start).
Welcome, @Stev0 (from a former resident of Darwin). It’s a Solar, with a German glass. See Solar here: Solar Good advice above from @phaedrus42. See the *pdf here: https://classicpressurelamps.com/attachments/px-rest-pdf.57117/ Cheers Tony
Hi phaedrus42, Thanks so much for the reply. As mentioned I’ll give a few parts an ultrasonic bath and then I’ll follow your instructions. Thanks very much again for your help.
Happy to be here Jeff. I had no idea what this lamp was except that it’s probably a Petromax clone and no idea of the condition. Pics on eBay were general. Not knowing much about pressure lamps anyway (except that they’re generally made to last) I thought I’d check it out and here I am lost in this new found world of Solar (and loving it!).
I could be wrong but the green enameled 'top hat' seems to be from a Veritas 350. It looks pretty good but you might be able to find a red Solar one if you look around. Here's my Solar 500 for comparison. Hmmmmm I'm not sure now... maybe Solar made green tops as well as red ones?
Thanks for that Colin. I noticed that the two screws on the top of mine are in the centre section unlike the Veritas top you have but just like the Solar 500 (just green). I’ve also got “Solar 350cp” on the vapour valve nut (forgot what their called) but here’s a pic.
Hello Steve, Solar lanterns are well made and there is plenty of information and assistance available here.
