I am think of buying an Hipolito H502 automatic having looked around and found a little information about them? can anyone tell me something about them? and are they worth collecting? sorry if the question seems odd but I'm a new collector so don't know much about any lamps but I'm learning.
Hello netsniper (?), Hipolito's where made by Hipolito sarl in Portugal and are de facto a copy of the petromax style lantern made my E&G and Graetz till 1969(ish). The Hipo 502 is the 500cp variant and made as civilian (chrome/nickel) and army version (dull grey). They are well made at least the army versions. The civilian version I don't know. Army version came in a steel metal case in two versions: top loaded or front loaded. The front loaded box has a green paper "manual/parts list" glued on to it. Both have a small box inside for mantles and a space for the funnel. The front loading box has also a clamp inside the left side where assumingly a shade could be placed. However there is no evidence this shade ever left the drawing board. The dutch army used them too, same design as the german army: mostly the top loading version. Worth collecting ? Depends what your aim is. There are plenty of these around so they will never become a rare item, value wise. New to lamps ? Remember all pressure lanterns are machines that burn flameable fuel under pressure. So study the design and know what you have to do when things turn bad and the parts you have to service. AND never, really never burn gasoline or any other fuel in them then kerosene.
Thank you for the information the one I have seen is a sort of dull finish with the control wheel being blue it looks in good condition to so I think I will go and grab it while its still there, one more question do these dull type clean up very well? the one I have seen looks like un-polished stainless?
Define : "clean up" for me please. They will never (?) become shiny if you think about that. As far as I know the chrome is brushed into the matt grey finish.
I just wondered if they would shine up ? but it's not important. So presumably they will eventually rust?
Again depends what you do with it. Some people do salt water night fishing. The salt water will corrode the metal fast. When made to the high Graetz standard they are brass made so they don't corrode easy.
Hi thanks again for you reply. No I'm not a fisherman and really only want to collect these lamps because I am fascinated by them.... its a long story but I seem to have got the collectors bug and have acquired about 30 different lamps in a very short time some good and some not so good but I will only learn by mistakes? by having said that I am finding even the not so well made lamps of interest. Going back to your earlier reply thanks for the warnings about fuel etc, I'm not keen on any of the petrol fuelled lamps only because I am not happy with this type of fuel and a match.
They are made of brass mostly so rust is never going to be a problem. There are some steel parts though. The inner hood certainly is and I think I remember right that the top cap is also steel. Good lanterns as well made as the earlier German made product so certainly worth buying. ::Neil::
i have a 102 which is a 150 cp and very shiny,a 1250, 250 cp very shiny and a couple of 502's 500cp. i think they are all great dependable lanterns. this type of lantern does require more understanding than a basic coleman but well worth the effort and a very rewarding experience. raf
Thanks Neil and all of you I am off today to negotiate with someone who is selling one near me so fingers crossed I might get a bargain to add to my collection, I think he also has a Petromax so I'll see if I can get him to part with that to.
I went and bought the lantern the weekend, got it back and fired it up had a little bit of flame at the top while it was warming but once I closed off the prehaeter and turned on the lantern it stopped. It came with a mesh metal guard and what looks like a stainless steel reflector but haven't worked out yet how to fit the reflector
tgmarsh.faculty.noctrl.edu/lantern/intllanthp.html here is where i always go for lantern info. we are all very fortunate to have Terry Marsh as a long time member of CPL. what a wonderful wealth of information from a real nice guy. just type in any lantern lamp or model number and there you are. I think the hipolito seahorse is superb.
Terry is #16 CPL member Go to his website, or google practically any lantern or lamp and you will be directed to his site. Once you get there and do some research you will understand how generous his contribution is to the collectors of the world. he is very accessable. and the information is free. if you want to understand more about the hobby you have chosen then go there and you will be glad that you did.
Terry is a serious researcher of pressure lighting particularly of the American persuasion and is very well known in Coleman collecting circles. He is also my biggest critic and often points out mistakes in the PLC for me. The site has grown and includes a truly great gallery of lamps and lanterns of all makes with a short description for each. You won't find many posts here by Terry but in a way his work is here because a lot of the info on American lamp companies and products I have for American stuff is from his research as much as mine. ::Neil::
Thanks for that Neil at least I now know. Can you tell me anything about the stainless steel shield on the lantern ?
Well sort of. It appears to be a stainless steel reflector. Probably not standard equipment I guess. I think you know as much as I do here. ::Neil::
Hi, I like your Hipolito lantern. Could the "reflector" be an on/off switch? You could then turn the light off without extinguishing the lamp, and turn it on again quickly. Don't hide your light under a bushel. Best Regards, Kerophile.
The link below shows an advert for that reflector/glass protector, Jeff. http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/1523
