Hello all, long time since my last post. Did not have a lot of time for the lamps and the stoves. But, last weekend I walked in to this Optimus 300 on a fair. Seems very complete. It’s a bit hard to put a date on it, I think the first half of the 1930’s? I took it home for €30,-. Big question; were these lamps polished? I don’t want to make a mistake that I can not fix later. Smal question;I want to restore it back to a working state. So right now I’m looking for a complete set of washers and other parts needed. I know the website that can supply, but which parts do I need? thanks a lot! I always get a bit excited when I can show off a new find here. Love the forum
That is a nice find and it looks to be original and complete, even the glass. It is the first variation of the 300 with the one piece vapouriser, so from 1931 or 32. These lamps always came nickel plated so would have been shiny originally. Nickel has a tendency to become dull with age and trying to polish to a shine often ends with polishing through the nickel. What it needs is a dismantling and a good bath in a citric acid solution. Don't leave it too long so that the bare brass areas go pink. Other than that it will need new washers. Rubber (preferably viton) for the filler cap and NRV pip. Lead for the vapouriser to tank seal. It could most likely need a new pump leather. You won't really know how the jet is until you try it and if the cleaning needle is still intact that is good.
