Hi from Belgium, This is my first post. I just bought my first Petromax, a 828/350 super which I believe is a 1953. Can anyone confirm this and point some things out how to identify the year? At the bottom it very hard to see but looks to be 4/3 scratched. The lamp doesn't work at the moment but want to refurbish it.
Hello @Wälderer , and welcome here! To me it looks as if the design of the globe cage and the inner chimney doesn't fit the type of preheater. That kind of lever was already used before the WW-II and shortly after, until it was replaced by another design in 1954, as shown in patent DE 951204. But at this time, the holes in the base of the globe cage were still looking like upright oblongs, and not like lying rectangles (and horizontal grooves) as at yours. That type of globe cage is earliest described in patent DE 1023431 from 1956, which was truly associated with the rare types with the "Sickentank". Nevertheless this is a fine lantern and will certaunly function perfectly after a good service. Here in the forum there's plenty information on how to do this. Good luck, and regards, Martin
@Wälderer, Welcome to the forum! I would clean the lantern, buy a spare globe to use and keep this one safe. Make it light again and enjoy. I would not make a big deal about age or dating, all parts are interchangeable and who know what history the lamp have had. Don't break the rapid lever, it will not be easy to find a replacement. Check the paddle in the air mixture tube (J-tube) and file the holding bolt down. They have a sharp point which dents the tube very easy. Replace the seals with viton rubber (hytta.de) and make sure all adjustments are ok. But most important, understand why and how it works, so you can troubleshoot better.
Most of your lantern could be from 1953 plus/minus one or two years. The hood is likely from the early 1950s just before it transitioned slightly into the latest design (around mid-50s to present day). The preheater (diecast zinc?) is supposed to be the 1930s /pre-war design. There might be some surplus of such a part during production or it could be a replacement from an older lantern. The cage/frame is not from the early 50s but is a later design (late 50s, throughout the 60s till present). All in all, its a great lantern. I think all parts are still the original German Petromax.
As for the zinc cast pre heater level: the AIDA 1250 lamps for the Dutch civil defence (cold war) had these too. So the design and patent date may be old but it is not a reliable dating thing. Patent dates only indicate that there is a "starting date"; from this year this design is on the market.
However, we are dealing with a Petromax lantern here and not an Aida lantern. So that is a problem that would need to be clarified. In my opinion, the most likely explanation would be that one of the previous owners assembled parts to make/keep this lantern running.
Thanks for the replies. Apparently it seems there are a few odd things on the lamp. I don't really mind as long I can get it running, I like the lamp as it is. An extra thing to mention is the body has the E&G markings. One thing I had to ask is the regulating wheel. Isn't it supposed to have a stop on the closed an full open positions (as my pressure stoves have)? I can keep turning it around and the needle moves up and down.
Yes, there is the E&G logo in your lantern. The last of the 'E&G' (Ehrich & Graetz) marked logos on the founts happened to be available on the production units till as late as the early 1950s if I'm not wrong. Perhaps 1952 or 53. The later ones have only the 'G' - for Graetz(the company responsible for the production). The lantern pricker operating wheel/knob is not an actual regulating or shut off valve. It does not have a stopping end. You can turn it round and over 360°. It merely operates the needle assembly for cleaning the jet/gas tip and also to open the spring-loaded footvalve at the lower-end of the fuel pickup tube. 'Needle-up' position coincides with foot valve shut and fuel flow interrupted. 'Needle down' position indicates foot valve open and fuel is released to the generator/vaporizer and burner. You do not regulate or control the lamp's output with the pricker control wheel. Its supposed to operate at fully-opened. You should only reduce output by releasing and lowering the fount pressure.
