Hello friends, for some time I have wanted to buy a significant quantity of mantles for my large lamps, I am referring to lamps of 350 and 500 cp of the Petromax type. I have had bad results buying in Asia and although obviously I cannot demand high quality, what I am looking for is the best value for money. The mantles I have bought (Butterfly) shrink a lot after turning on and give off a slightly yellowish light. Anyway, and I think that as many do, I have old NOS mantles but I don't want to exhaust them, maybe leave them for important occasions ... I would like to know your experiences and maybe you have some tips, links or ideas. I would also like to know this information but with mantles made in Europe. for example; I have never worn a Luxor mantle. I thought a lot before putting this information and I think we can generate some kind of debate, obviously an entertaining debate. Cheers from Southamerica Cesar
This link shows a topic which may be of interest. https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/ship-anchor-mantle.17460/
On AliExpress I have purchased the green topped sock style mantles and also the pink topped sock style and from experience, the greens are pretty good whereas the pinks fail about 50% of the time! The green tops work well with Coleman, Petromax and Veritas, the pink ones are good for smaller Colemans. I've also used the ball type butterfly mantles by in the lower seem and they wor kik well on Tilleys and Bialaddins. Mind you, I think it's entirely depends which seller you use, @Norman has had the exactly the opposite results.
Cesar You bring up a great topic, how to find good quality thorium mantles for a good price. I really have the feeling thorium mantles maybe be disappearing even the vintage ones . I bought a 100 of the Butterfly mantles labeled #41 500cp but as you note they burn yellow but are quite rugged. The BF mantles I had some years before were rated 400-500 cp ,but unlike these burned impressively white. Like many I purchased the Indian made Fargo 300cp mantles on ebay they are thorium and burn white ,worth buying a 100. Maybe they might work with a 350cp lantern . The only site selling clearly labeled thorium mantles is Just Mantles NZ, he carries Peerless mantles, has a great reputation but prices may rule out a big bulk purchase. Maybe worth buying a few to test to see how they work. That's what I may do.
I have purchased on Ebay a good quantity of Fargo brand mantles from India. They resemble in both manufacture and packaging the petromax mantles we are familiar with. I was satisfied with the first trial on a Coleman 200 lantern. Although advertised as 400-500 CP there was significant over flame in a larger 500CP lantern. The mantle takes the form of a small bulb when it is burned in.
Fargo only has these on fleabay in the 400/500 size, do you think these would work well on a 350cp (Austramax) lantern? I contacted them about the small 3/4 size but have not heard back.
If they work well on a Coleman 200, they'll work fine on your Austramax. Don't be put off by the 400/500 candlepower rating. Fargo mantles really do shrink when burned off. Left to right, Fargo 400/500 on a 350cp Petromax clone, Coleman 21A on a Coleman 242B, Coleman 21A on an Austramax.
Thanks for the fast response, I'm not happy with a Coleman 21 on it so ordered a few butterfly ones and will try Fargo. Need to order some peerless 2c hg or whatever for my 228e Coleman and will try those as well. Our local store has the 21 's for a 4 packs for about 3.80 USD , they have cases of them but they don't seem to hold up well.
If you are getting Butterfly or any other mantles from China via Aliexpress, etc, don't worry about them being labelled as 500/600cp. They won't be too large for most of your lanterns. I've even got some Rhino mantles with 800cp rating that would still work on 350cp lanterns. Butterfly mantles can come in wide variations.
Absolutely agree on the Butterfly mantels; one size nearly fits all! For me, Fargo is the winner. I wonder if they contain Thorium?
