As found in a flea market today. I started dismantling the vaporizing tube as I know if there is a problem, that would be the first thing to check. Well, there was a problem alright The cleaning needle was crushed or bent and the jet was plugged (by the broken piece of cleaning needle). I was able to unplug the jet but the performace without the needle was not up to par and so I PM'd loco7stove if he could get me the parts needed It will be a while so I will set the lamp aside for now. Is this a 60's lantern Ron
As has been mentioned a couple of other places, this lantern is most likely from the late 70s or 80s. As far as I know, Optimus didn't sell non nickel plated lamps until the later part of the 70s. Presumably to cut production costs. Became very popular though with so many people liking shiny brass. I emphasize the 'sell' part as Optimus did produce a brass lantern in the 60s. This was the 200P version for the Swedish civil defence. These were never sold to the public until the civil defence started off loading there old stuff some years ago. Nice example of this version of the 1200. Doesn't look like it's been used much.
Nils, it has not been used much. One reason would be that the needle was bent inside the jet (not seated properly) and would not function properly and that a broken piece lodge in the jet hole which I have managed to dislodge. Seems the jet hole on this is smaller than .23mm as non of my stove prickers would fit. I would think that the jets surface on the underside may not be properly honed so the pricker itself was never centered. By any chance someone has remedied such kind of problem? Ron
What you found out when testing with a stove pricker is correct. 0.23 is far to big for a lamp this size. I think the jet should be around 0.18mm, or so. The needle would of course be smaller. Around appr. 0.17mm.
Hi Ron what a super find is that the price $85 still a bargain for a Optimus lantern which are made to a very high standard i much prefer the style of the control lever on the rapid preheater to the modern equivelent. Another feature i like is the glass globe which is part frosted
Hi Ron: Nice score! I repaired Optimus lanterns off and on for a SoCal distributor until 10 years ago. Alcohol jets were available for Optimus lanterns for the Marine crowd to compliment their alcohol stoves. You may have encountered a mismatch with an alcohol needle and kero jet. Sorry, but I do not remember the sizes or numbers....Greg....
Hi Mr. Optimus, well $85 "was" the tag price but haggled it down to something my wallet would be comfortable to pay. Yes, I do love the older type lever and how it operates. I do need to test it out further as I noticed the preheater will fire up and have a strong flame only for 15 seconds and then just stops everytime. Perhaps a bit of carb cleaner spray is necessary. Christer, I will try to find some .17mm wire and see if I could still fettle the needle holder (somehow). GregP, alcohol lantern? I would think that the jets on the alcohol would be slightly bigger if my memory serves me correctly. Then again my experience tells me that pressurized alcohol appliances do tend to eat up fuel faster than kerosene appliances. Ron
Ron, why fiddle with that? Didn't you say that you had ordered a new needle already? Anyway, if you still are intending to do this, I just measured this needle, and it's 0.16 mm.
Hey Christer, yup I did order it already. You say its .16mm? Did find a supplier that has either .15mm or .17mm wire in small quantities. I guess its just me who wants to ressurect the old cleaning needle (if I can) and keep it as a spare. I like to see if I could manage to do this. Let you know how it goes (while waiting for the spares to arrive). Cheers Ron
