I use petroleum (Dutch/Gernan name only?), that's almost the same as kerosine. I think petro from Petromax comes from petroleum and Max Graetz, the inventor of the lamp and owner of the company Ehrich and Graetz
Petrol / gasoline in Dutch is called benzine, Benzin (with a capital) is german. As for the 'commoness' of petroleum, it used to be used for heating, slow revving diesel-like engines, illumination etc. everywhere. Available everywhere as well. Not so today, with most offerings 'in the country' rather than in the cities. Used by few today, and marketing together with economics kills.
Well sorry to read this. You got information and guidance for free, collectors among collectors, not to gain a profit by selling your lantern(s). These kind of things should not be done (my opinion). I will therefore not answer on your questions in the future.
In my opinion this is a bit exaggerated, Wim. but if you feel good about it, that's fine! And there's no profit at all, unfortunately.
@SulphurTX It's more of a community ethics thing here. We collect and exchange knowledge, preserving history and educate others, giving up free time which could have been put to more "productive use" to pursue and share this hobby, people who have spent likely years or decades cataloging and honing the craft. It's a bit a slap in the face when someone helps to turn a rust bucket into something that looks like it belongs to a showroom for a museum using the knowledge that took time to learn, only to learn the true "nefarious" intention of it being a "cash grab." It's why alot of these collector communities have grey area sections when it comes to appraisals and sales. Either on an entirely separate board or completely restricted to private messages for such matters.
that is of course not my intention. I recently discovered this hobby and enjoy restoring old items that have not been used for years and giving them a second life. the buyer is someone who has no knowledge of these lamps at all and is very happy with them. I think it is good that lamps that are rusting away are given a second life in this way, thanks to all of us on this forum. and I don't find it strange that you occasionally resell a lamp once it has been refurbished. sorry if this offends the forum community. but I think a lot of people operate that way. you can't keep and use all the oil lamps.
@SulphurTX While there are legitimate reasons to part away with a restored lantern due financial hardship, downsizing to make space, or leaving the hobby as a whole. This is commonly observed with veteran collectors who have since held onto the lantern for a period of time before they part away with for reasons mentioned above. But for someone who appears to be "new to the game" here, it's kinda seen as bad taste appearing as if the new person is only really here to get something working and out the door for some shiny clams, a picker and flipper as someone would describe. I've observed one instance of community ire when someone was restoring an extremely rare lantern, only for them to cave and air their grievance about the temptations to sell it (It has very high market value and extremely sought out to collectors alike). They sought out expert advice in restoring it knowing the dangers of how irreplaceable the parts are and how to properly fettle it, There's only a few handfuls in known possession of that particular lantern. So it made sense it would rub them the wrong way for those who stuck out for the long road to see it shine again, only for that lantern to disappear.
Ok, I understand that. But this particular lamp is a Chinese made Petromax. Not very rare and still build new and all parts are widely available. I'm absolutely not a picker and flipper.
Oops... @SulphurTX It is a little disheartening to learn of that.. But what is done cannot be undone. But I guess it is still 'ok' if you had given it away for free.
You seem not to get the point: it's not about the model or rarity of the lantern/lamp it's about behaviour amongst fellow collectors. @Dashwood : you explained it well.
@SulphurTX , In a simple perspective, once you're an official member of any similar "collectors" forum, you'd be treated by all members as a fellow collector.., as a friend or rather, as part of the community.. It is sort of an 'unwritten code of conduct' that any fellow member should uphold an understanding that under normal, unforced circumstances, he or she should not habour the ultimate interest or objective of selling(regardless of the profits), the relevant collectibles, be they in 'as found' or restored conditions, after having seeked or gained knowledge, information or guidance on the said subjects from fellow collectors. While that is not a hard or fast rule on any forums, it is certainly an awareness that any fellow member should have in mind. My apologies, if that sounded harsh in any way. Anyways, you are still right that we won't be hoarding on to whatever we've been collecting over the years. We would still eventually part with them,...but that's another matter. There is of course, absolutely no problems about anyone's interest and intention of restoring or preventing such items from further deterioration or saving them from getting discarded to the trash pile, and eventually giving them a lease of life. We all have similar interests on that. These are just our hobbies,..we don't exactly view ourselves as strict collectors or historians who must absolutely preserve the authenticities of such items either.
