Believe it or not, I’m thinking my new (old) Optimus 930, 300cp lantern may be a bit over my head... ...So I took it out of its (original) box today (for the 2nd time in about as many weeks), looked it over again, did a *minimal* clean up job, and took a few pictures - which I hope to share with you here and now. I’m not joking. This Optimus 930 is like a classic Ferrari to my real life Nissan. I’m thinking about putting it up on eBay, getting a few dollars, and buying a less “vintage,” more common gas lantern for my back yard barbecues. But I need some advice on what asking price I should be looking at. Here’s what I can tell you: I bought this lantern at some flea market in Southern California maybe 15-20 years ago, and its been in the same (original) box and “hidden away” since I bought it. In the box, in addition to the lantern itself, I found small paper bags of extra Optimus gear and parts, nuts, bolts, washers, new mantles, and other little itty bitty things I have no idea what they are for. But they all look new and from the lantern manufacturer. Here are some pics I took this morning. My thanks and appreciation for your input and advice. - Mike
Oh. And like someone here suggested, I did a pump valve test with the thumb held tight over the fill valve - and the pressure seemed good. I “swabbed” the tank with a wooden chopstick and it came out a little “gunky.”
You should keep your Optimus 930 and start using it. As a strict policy we do not give valuations. We do have The Trading Post here on CPL where you can list your lantern for sale. If you really want to sell your lantern sell it to a collector who will use it. Cheers, Norman
Thank you, Martin... If I knew what I was doing, I could possibly take pride in making it look even better.
Thank you, Norman, for the concern and advice. Getting it to someone who would truly appreciate and enjoy the 930 is what I can only hope to do right now. It’s like I said: I have an old classic car sitting in the garage that I really have no idea what it is or how cool it is. My son’s advice: whatever you do, don’t try to “fix” it!
@mikehayward , you have a very cool lantern, i have one, hour of fun, please dont be discouraged, may be even your next lantern may be worse. I too started at the begining, i knew nothing. But with some persistance and self education, read from the forum, there are answers to your questions or issues or scenario. Start with some simple steps. Dismantle your lantern, in order, lay it out like you see in the fettle forum or gallery. All lanterns are basically similar. Remove the burner head all in 1 part. Leaving the tank and generator exposed. If it seals, and you can pressure test it. If you see any bubbles you have air leaks. If you remove the pump and air come out of there you have a non return valve issue, If no leaks but you think you have gunk in the tank, flush it out, 1/2 cup of kero and some small nuts in and do the rattle and shake, see what comes out. Repeat if necessary. Flush with metholated spirits als helps, Next try dismantling the generator from the fuel valve, be careful the pricker wire is precious. Is it gunked up, or carbon deposit, is so this all needs to be sqeeky clean, there are tips on cleaning this in the fettle forum. Remove the jet anf pricker put them somewhere else safe. You can now pressure your tank and see if the kero flows out the top of your tank, is it clean or dirty, See how all of the above goes. Give it a try you may be suprised how easy it is and get results. You tube may help but dont take it as the absoulute truth. As sometimes it shows you what not to do. Do ask the fellas questions you wont be mislead , honest practical answers is what you will get. Do ask
I follow @Darryl Durdin , good advices from him. Clean and start using your lantern. You will not be disappointed. It’s a nice, small lantern, very portable and very simple in construction. I use mine almost every evening, never had any problem with none of 3 I have. And mine are in worse condition than yours. Compared to Coleman petrol lanterns this 930 is very simple to fettle. Run it and enjoy it!
@mikehayward - fear not - these things are not that complicated - at one time in history everyone knew how to use and fix them. Add into that the willingness of people here and you should soon be basking in bright light in your yard...
Thank you, Darryl... your advice is very practical and encouraging! I can almost envision myself working through the investigative steps you suggest. Hey... how difficult can it be? Especially with a support team like you folks at CPL. But I still wish I could see/find a video that would “walk” me through the steps you mention. Thank you again.
Thank you, Kuman. Looking at my 930 I get the feeling it wasn’t used that much and that most of the cosmetic “damage” to the unit was caused, not by misuse, but by so *little* use and protective care. “It twar’ run hot and put away wet and cold.” Darryl’s advice is encouraging and so is yours. Thanks.
Thank you, Fireexit1... Perhaps my fear is of doing more damage than repair. Your kind words and advice make me want to look further into the Fettle Forum and see what challenges others have met and overcome - and more importantly, how. Thanks!
Well if it helps my third ever fettle was an optimus 350 - and it had some challenges - but people here talked me through it to success. A few pennies dropped along the way I have to say...
Thanks again, Fireexit1... Pertinent to the discussion here is the fact that when I recently took out the lantern and looked into the Optimus box there were about six or seven envelopes containing repair/replacement gear. Don’t really know what half of it is other than the extra mantels. But I figure if I get brave enough and start to take the lamp apart, I’ll get down to pieces that will have me saying, “Oh! That’s what that thing is!” One item that has me really confused is a thin strip of aluminum about 2-1/2 inches long with what looks like a thin needle sticking up off one end of the strip. (?) Anyone?
Paul, I think you’re right... Not knowing what the heck you were talking about (or what a “stove pricker” did [I still don’t know]), I did a little online research and came up with the *attached* photo. Okay: it’s a stove pricker. The question now is... what’s it doing mixed in with the other Optimus 930 spare parts (i.e., what practical use is a stove pricker in the repair, cleaning, “fettling” of a gas lantern? Thanks for giving me the clue. Now, what’s the answer?
Another photo of the hardware piece in question below. I think the three pieces I found in the lantern box originally came in the shown paper sleeve. BTW, Both photos seem to come from this web site, CPL.
Indeed, it does not belong to this lantern and normally there is no use for it here. Some folks use it before starting the lantern to clean the jet - in case the cleaning needle is broken. But the size of this pricker should match the size of cleaning needle, otherwise you risk damaging jet hole.
Hi @mikehayward Sometimes the previous owner also owned a stove, It's not uncommon for parts to get mixed up or left behind as time moves on. if you have a stove or blowlamp it may be useful? ...Otherwise you have a souvenir!
I love my 930, not much more complicated than most other lanterns. I’d hang on to it but I’m sure it would do well through eBay. Either way, better to have something you will use I reckon.
Thank you, Tony. It will remain a wonderful mystery how Optimus “stove prickers” ended up in an Optimus 930 lantern box.
Thank you, Kuman. I therefore won’t use these items to clean the lantern’s gas jet... unless I am certain they are “the right tool for the right job.”
Thanks, Podbros! But I have no other Optimus equipment, just the 930 lantern. Y’know, the number of the misc. small parts that I found in the bottom of the lantern box looked to be in rather poor and aged condition, but other parts look good as new (what look to be mantle nozzles, tiny gas jet nozzles). There are even several mantles which appear to be in their original small paper bags! Wonder if they’re still good? Do lantern mantles last forever, or do they decay?
Nice to hear for someone who has a little understanding of my dilemma. Thank you, Scott! Nonetheless, I’m beginning to come around to an appreciation of the affection so many CPL members have for this little lantern.
Final follow-up: My son expressed a strong interest in buying the 930 if I put it up on eBay. I told him the eBay consideration was at that moment “off the table”; the lantern was his as soon as I cleaned it up.
Mmm. Yes and no. If they are stored correctly (sorry but I have no idea what constitutes " ideal conditions") then yes, they last forever. On the other hand, they are mildly radioactive (alpha radiation) so yes, they do decay. Only you know the reason for any desision you may make, but rest assured, if your son does take the lantern, you can rest assured: a) it's staying in the family. b) if there's anything he's not sure of, he knows where to come.
