I just purchased 3 old lanterns. They looked cool. I saw a few videos online and thought they were interesting and would be fun to learn about. I paid a total of $140 for these 3 lanterns, but know very little about the history, etc. It looks like one has a couple of broken pieces and perhaps the wrong globe. I purchased (1) Optimus 1550. It says made in Sweden but has a Made in West Germany globe, (2) Justright unknown model. Looks like there is a missing plunger or cap, and (3) Aida Express 1550 which appears to have a couple of broken pieces.
Chad, You will find the name is JustRite. I think the the Model No 30 lantern you have is quite scarce. You have had a very good deal at $140 for the three lamps.
Hi @Chad Campbell welcome to the forum. Good haul and a great place to start. This website will be invaluable to you Restoration of a PETROMAX 829 Lantern Although the optimus and the Aida are different they follow the same principle and have similar parts. There is an article on this board about the rapid starter on the Optimus which is a little different to the Petromax one. I suggest you leave the Justrite till last after you have honed your skills as it is quite a bit older and a lot more rare. Some models were made to work with an external pump - hence no plunger ! The West German glass is correct for both the Aida and the Optimus. The one with the deer on it is for the Aida. Optimus parts are available from fogas.se (email them they speak english) Many or most of the Aida parts are interchangable with Petromax. You can source Petromax parts in the US. Original AIDA knobs turn up from time to time. The Aida and Optimus run on Kerosene NOT Coleman fluid (white gas). They need pre-heating in order to work. Use the rapid starter or alternatively meths (denatured alcohol) in a pre-heat cup. There is information about nearly everything you need to know or will encounter scattered about this board. have fun, Chris
Hi Chad and welcome to the forum from the Scottish Highlands. That’s a great haul you found there and you certainly didn’t pay too much! Happy fettling!
Thank you all for the kind words and welcoming! I'll take a look at the forums/links about the restoration process. I purchased the Optimus 1550 locally for $40. It appears not to have anything broken. And I used the pump and it feels like it pressurizes the lamp. I purchased the Aida 1500 and Justrite from someone in Atlanta. Saw them online, made an offer, sent him a Fedex label, and he sent to me. I knew about the Aida 1500 which is what drew my attention to his listing. Had no idea what the other one was, and I don't think he did either, because no clear markings like the Aida 1500. Paid him $90 for the pair plus cost me $7 to ship. And he packaged well and it arrived safe and sound. The Aida 1500 has a couple of broken pieces that I can make out right now. Do you try to find a donor lamp for the extra parts or can be buy 2nd hand from someone? Other than take a picture, I have done anything to the Justrite. What makes it so rare? It looks like where you pour in the fuel, there is something missing on the cap. Is there something missing or is this how it is suppose to be?
Justrite missing or incorrect pieces: (1) The globe says Coleman. Is that correct? (2) There is a small opening in the cap. Is this correct?
On the JustRite it is a replacement coleman globe. I think that these originally came with mica not glass but others will know better. I think that the cap it should have a valve of sorts in there. you will have to open it and look inside. re: AIDA you might have better luck if one of our German fellows here picks this up. You can see what you are looking for in the reference library on this site Classic Pressure Lamps & Heaters.
The Justrite looks complete to me. They sold gasoline lantern models 25 and 30 from about 1925 to 1930. They are not at all common partly because sales volume would have been low compared to the likes of Coleman, AGM, Akron Etc and partly because the steel globe cages and vent hoods were very prone to rust out so the survival rate will be low. Model 30 has a built in pump and your Model 25 has a filler cap/Air valve much the same as a lot of contemporary 1920s lamps. This air valve was intended for a pump connector to screw in but a Coleman type lamp pump will work just as well and they are not so hard to find. This partial instruction leaflet may help. ::Neil::
Yes. That type of cap is the valve. It is also sometimes referred to as a filler plug. This one is from a Coleman but the principal is the same. The other side looks like this, notice the captivated ball bearing check valve This part is called the air screw You will need a pump similar to this one, note the nipple on the end. To operate: Open the airscrew two turns. Place nipple of pump into the concave of the airscrew. Pump in air. Tighten airscrew. Job done. The pump shown is actually for a Coleman iron but works just as well on lamps and lanterns - you just need more pump strokes.
I know that in the U.S., many words are spelt differently to their British counterpart but seriously, tracter ?
The Justrite alone would be a bargain all by itself! I have one posted in the gallery. This company made miner's wick lanterns, too. They are better know for them than pressure lanterns. Very nice find! Welcome aboard!
Probably just a typo. In the early 70's, there was a Datsun or Mazda owner's manual that had a section called "Shitting the 5-Speed"... Mike.
We seem to be a dying breed that spell the words how we learnt them in school. 'Spelled', Learned, etc, seems to be the latest fashion of using all things American.
Oops, we're beginning to stray off-topic but in reply to @Matty Things change as time passes, it's the way of the world. I'm sure our ancesters from two or three hundred years ago would have something to say about the way in which the English of today is spelt and in may cases, pronounced.
As far as I'm concerned, 'spelled', 'learned' and 'earned' are correct English usage and have been all my life - they're not recent innovations. One thing that has me wondering is the use of the word 'curb' to described the edge of a pavement/sidewalk. In England it's 'kerb' - i.e. two completely different words. For example, one of the functions of a kerb is to curb your tendency to walk into the road. Another is advice and advise - that's good advice and I advise you to take it. Anyway...
Question for you: I found someone selling what looks to be 2 Aida lanterns. Asking $75 USD, but probably can get them for a little less. Both are missing the globe. Is it worth picking these up for parts? What's the most you'd pay for a parts lantern? If you look at my Aida lantern in the earlier post, I'll need a couple of replacement parts anyway. Any advice?
At those prices I would grab them, you might end up with one good original and two good working ones out of all three. Similar size globes are available.
This is actually a picture of the 2 lanterns I can get. I've offered $50 USD for both. Waiting to hear back.
Chad, on this AIDA 1500 you show here, all the plastic knobs of the pump (present), quickstarter (missing) and pricker control knob (burnt?) should be orange. Post-war AIDA was the export brand made by the same producer of the well known Petromax lamps, and afaik little of AIDA can be found in Germany. But reading up on Petromaxes is very relevant, and plenty to be found here. AIDA (1)500 should be read as a 500 CP or Candle Power lamp with (quickstarter). I do have original AIDA glass or globes this size available, but no controls. That situation might change if I happen to find them, but do not hold your breath. And of course someone else here could have what you need or want in stock, so I wish you good luck and enjoyment bringing this lamp and the others back in working condition. Mike
Mike (and everyone else), thank you for the warm welcome and information. I may have mentioned earlier, but I have never been very mechanically inclined. But I want to challenge myself and learn something new. I never really appreciated how cool these lanterns are. Once I begin looking at them, I'll take inventory of what is good and what needs replaced/repaired and post. I can almost guarantee you that I will post a lot of questions along the way. Sorry about that! I'll take a look at the Petromaxes and read up about them. To all of you, thank you for the info and assistance. It's much needed.
