I picked up an odd to me petromax yesterday and its sort of baffling me. First of all the handle attachment isnt like other petromaxes which are held on with 2 captured nuts. This one is more like the coleman soo series which are pulled apart out of the holding tabs to remove. It has a what I believe to be correct, bulb type globe such as found on coleman 236/237 but all it says is PYREX in green. Finally, the collar, which also appears factory made, has ZERO markings on it. Number on the fount bottom is 899135.
LOL I was hoping that would be enough info, but yeah I know too that we all like pics! It will be a little while, probably tonight, before I can get to that. Today is jammed full of chores. We are heading back to that estate sale in a few minutes, then Ive got to move a dozer, then cut some hickory for a buddy that smokes meat, then an NWTF banquet tonight, so it may be a little while before pics pop up!
I've not seen a real Petromax lantern with a bulbous globe like those found on the Coleman 236/237. Sounds like a Frankie there. A modern Petromax fount topped with a Coleman-like upper?
Depends the small 150cp lanterns do have an other handle construction. Questions why does the topic starter thinks it is a Petromax when there is no marking.
Trust me, its a petromax, not a frank. Fount is stamped petromax in all the correct spots, etc..... burner is stamped, generator tip is stamped, etc..... I WILL post pics as soon as I get a chance, too much going on for the next few hours though.
Petromax burner head, notice the "ears on each side, those are what holds the arm that has a threaded rod on it that goes through the vent and secures the vent.
That's what I thought. It looks like it had been modified by the Amish with their own globe cage construction. The stamping with the 6 digits on the fount base indicates that it's one of the newer Petromaxes which was not manufactured in Germany or Portugal any more.
After comparing it to my newer brytlyte version, I see some things that are either different or missing. No flat heat shield is one, the plain collar being another. That leads me to believe that it indeed has been "customized" by someone, but why?
I did see another one set up the same way on fleabay, which leads me to think that whoever did this made a habit out of it for some reason?????????
Hmmm. But this is an older Germany petromax. LOL so tell me about Lancaster? Was Lancaster a brand or a one off customizer of different lanterns?
Just type "Lancaster Lanterns" here in the searchbar or in Google. It's like I already said: these are lanterns that were modified or newly made by the Amish. Another from them one is the "Lightning Bug HC Lantern", a completely new construction. :edit: As I said before: The basis of your lantern is a newer "Petromax" clone from the far east, and these modifications don't seem to be so uncommon.
The fount is of an earlier Far-East copy of the original Petromax. It is still modern and not exactly a real Petromax. It was neither Made in Germany nor Portugal. I don't think it was made in Argentina either. The rapid preheater, pricker control and generator/vaporizer are likely from this same copy of the Petromax. Not sure if the outer top hood is from a genuine Petromax or that of a clone. The collar, frame cage and globe are not Petromax items. Could be from any Coleman-type lantern and as suggested, also partially 'modified' in Amish style to suit a Petromax inner hood. . Wouldn't all this point to a Frank?
Indeed it looks like it does, I tried to edit it but couldnt figure out how. The biggest reason I ASSUMED it was a real petromax was that its nothing like the brytelite petro copy that I have. Live and learn as they say. Im still in it at a decent price and IF it burns as bright as the Lancaster conversions are supposed to I will still be a happy camper! Thanks to all for the education!
Well, if it works fine, I wouldn't mind getting one too. Kind of unique anyway. I wouldn't consider the Britelyt as a copy of the Petromax. It has a patent of its own. I don't think they're cheap either. Anyhow, it still looks somewhat Petromax-like and the working principles are largely the same. Hence, it is frequently thought of as another Petromax clone by many... Those Lancaster lanterns aren't anywhere cheap as well. I'd say, they look pretty well-made.
