I recently found a new project to work on. It is an old Hipo from before 1970. Probably between 1950 and 1960. I am now working on it and I think that the quality is much higher than the Petromax from the same year. When it is finished I wil make some close up and compare it with his German brother. if there is someone with more knowledge about the history, please let me know.
Goedeavond. Hipolito is a Petromax clone, on par or sometimes exceeding the original German built unit of the same era. I have many NOS examples stored away awaiting display once I complete my current "project"...my house. As regards restoring, all parts are interchangeable with NOS or new production Petromax parts. Your lantern which is a great example will polish up well. I have visited the Hollands many a time, beautiful country.
In fact, this is a Hipólito lantern made in Torres Vedras / Portugal before taking over the production of Petromax / Aida lanterns from Graetz Altena / Germany in the early 1970s. The quality of these lanterns is reportedly very good, as are the Petromax / Aida lanterns from the same company.
This Hipolito has a lot of similar features found on earlier Petromax lanterns of this design. Not all but quite a few. A feature mix of those Petromax(s) that were made in the late 1930s, throughout 1940s and early 1950s. Examples, the shape/design of the hood and squarish vent holes, the early 2-piece bakelite/phenolic knobs, the oblong-slotted frame collar and kidney-shaped spirit cup to name a few. A very nice find.
Here are some pictures from the restored lamp. It is a Hipolito 500, probably from the 1950/60. This one has a rapid turn knob. they where made in one production before Petromax lamps where made in Portugal. The quality is much higher than the later productions. They made 8 types of this lamp. 150/250/350/500 in 2 series. One with a rapid like this one and one with the rapid lever.
What an excellent find and even better fettle ! - you must be very pleased with that These pictures belong in the reference library !
I don’t think you will get to see it. I cleaned and cleared the hole lamp for preservation. I am sorry
I only need to check the bottom valve. But first I need to make a key for it. Never seen this one in a hipolito. I think it is the same as on the rapid.
My Hipolito automatic rapid has the slotted type. As does my 1950's Petromax, Although that is not original as it had a non-servicable one in it.
@Hans-Peter You polished the Hipolito very nicely These lanterns were available in 250,350 and 500cp.They were sold as FAMA,HIPOLITO and GENIOL. FAMA and HIPOLITO had embossed Logos on the tanks. The GENIOL only had Decals with the brand name GENIOL on the tanks and black/green knobs. Some Geniol's are marked with GENIOL on the hood cap. The problem with these lanterns has always been the quick preheater . On the GENIOL it was then replaced by another quick preheater of unknown origin for me. Hipolito also built a lantern with a bead tank in 1975 on which this quick preheater of unknown origin was installed. With the introduction of the LANTERN-series D-206,D-306 and D-506 in 1975/76,the old, interessting variants then disappeared. This LANTERN series was essentielly identical in construction to the lanterns last manufactured by Petromax/Altena,only the ventilation slots were vertical in the beginning. According to my observation, the first lanterns that were manufactured in 1974 with the machines from Altena were ,according to my observations, exclusively lanterns of the German Armee forces (Heinze-Petromax 1974-1979).By 1982 at the latest, the lanterns for the Bundeswehr were called GENIOL.These Heinze-Petromax and Geniol were made at Hipolito in Torres Vedras and are identical in construction to the lanterns last made in Altena and of very good quality. All of this lanterns are part of my collection and the 4-digit codes from 1974> allways fit. Hipolito and FAMA Brand lanterns manufactured before 1974 never have numbers on the tank. Reinhard
@Hans-Peter Until 1974 all Hipolitos were equipped with the parts you showed. All Hipolitos (99%) that were manufactured in Torres Vedras from 1974/75 onwards are identical to the Petromax lanterns from Altena/Germany manufactured up to 1972. Reinhard
