This was my first clone and arguably the best lamp I own. It's certainly the brightest by a very large margin, it starts very easily and lasts ages on one fill. My phone doesnt do it justice but its way to bright to look at and easily fills any room with bright, white light! As we may be having regular power cuts this winter in the UK, I thought I'd best check out some emergency lighting, so I fetched this particular model and I definitely wasn't disappointed! I am so pleased with my Anchor 950, it really is my go-to, reliable workhorse!
@ColinG Given my recent experience of servicing a Golden Globe (China) lantern, I respectfully suggest Colin that you confirm that: the valve spindle packing isn’t made of toffee as mine was - well, some sort of plastic but a wholly inadequate seal there’s thread lock sealant on the valve-to-tank threads. Mine had none and a nudge ruined the pressure tightness by backing off on the lead washer seal, which of course has no elasticity to take up the micro-gap created Some years ago Neil McRae posted a horror tale of a Tilley FL6 that exploded because a drip of paraffin from the pricker control spindle packing had vapourised on the hot fount (it had been running for a good while) and ignited, resulting in a conflagration that melted the fount solder seams, creating an explosion that engulfed a bystander. That was outdoors, so all the more reason to check those seals if indoor use is in prospect. John
I know of two HK made Petromax that exploded some time ago. No injuries with either but for one the fireball was impressive and destroyed a camp dining shelter. We don’t know the cause but I suspect it had to be a leak and boiled fuel in the tank. All the lamps we play with have the potential to fail spectacularly if they are not fettled right and a weak point in Petromax types is that burner to tank seal and as with all lamps the control or pricker spindle gland seal. Having said that a properly fettled Anchor can be seriously bright. I recorded my Anchor 950 at 400cp some years ago which as far as I know has only been bettered by Malcolm’s Hipolito H502 which at 3 bar pressure gave a remarkable 550cp. ::Neil::
Hmm. I have two of these beggars. I did replace all of the seals on first getting them but there was nothing on the threads. Time to break out the threadlock ! - thanks both.
Don’t get me wrong, I love our pressure stoves and lamps, but first-hand experience of attending fires, including ‘persons involved’ ones with tragic outcomes, has made me ultra-careful, including running them outdoors only.
'Pound for pound' speaking, I'll have to agree that a lot of these Petromax-styled and similarly designed clones are among the brightest of the lot, if not the brightest. That's especially, when you're talking about those in the 350 and 500cp categories. Its hard to pinpoint exactly why they often appear to be so. For any lantern that you're willing to sacrifice a bit originality, you can actually do away with the the soldered joint on the part where the central screw attaches to the fount or for some, the bung/port where the fuel pickup block is screwed into the fount. Just sil-brazed them instead of relying on soft solder. That'd certainly make them a lot more tolerant to abnormal heating, in case it happens.
Still you operate a Coleman 226 with gasoline despite it has rubber Seal only at the valve shaft?? You kann never predict when this fails.
No, but by assigning a service life to it AND inspecting it often - I like dismantling and servicing things - I feel reasonably confident there’ll be no nasty surprises! Outdoor use only too of course.
Might I enquire as to what threadlock you use ? I went to my stores and noted my Loctite 222 has all dried up. Then I remembered it must be 35 years old..
I use this stuff. I’ve never had it let go but determined effort with a spanner (wrench) will undo the joint. ‘Medium strength’ rated, 222 is ‘Low strength’ apparently. It copes with the moderate heat of the components I use it on without degrading.
Great looking lamp. I still need a Petro style lantern lol. I found a nos 999 in mint shape but haven't decided yet on it. I think it's a 350cp. Take care and have fun.
No it's a 999, thought they were the 350cp. Also found a newer petromax 150cp with extra globe for 150 but it's face to face only and they are 3 hours away lol. Good thing I stocked up on kersoene. A local place had theirs still at last year's price, it's went up 33 percent since this time last year.
Nice Anchor. I don't have one yet but have various other brands of clone. My most used and reliable is an Aeroplane and The Gilman Pressure Lantern.
Hmmm, I have a new Petromax from the modern Petromax brand and so far everything that gets hot has come apart, so I think I will have to take a good look at the bottom half before it over day gets a bit warm. If the top half was anything to co by!!!. Incidentally an original petromax with the same fuel and mantle and new jet burns brighter!.
Well I now have a used brytelite xl I am cleaning up to try. It seems very well made, and barely used. The chrome shade is steel and does have a couple spots the chrome is bubbled up on but other than that after I put it back together it looks near new. This thread pushed me over the edge lol.
To be fair, if you get a good clone (current petromax from petromax) and fettle it a bit from new, it's not a bad lamp at all, but wow do they ask a high price for what is still a clone. You can definately get a genuine old German made petromax (or equivalent) for less money, restore it, and still have spent less money. Might not look as pristine, but will give out light as good if not better than a newer version.
