I found these listed in Washington D.C. and negotiated them down to a price that made the 98 mile each way trip worth while. I used to live just outside of D.C. and while I drive around it regularly for work I avoid the area as much as possible on my days off, but these just need to find their way into my home. I'm pretty sure they are true German Petromax, and the case is a Petromax case and not a Genoil, but would like the opinions of the pros- they are marked in multiple places Made in Germany, not simply Germany, and marked Original Petromax.They also have the 10 pointed star in the logo. The Suprex globes are marked Special Petromax, one globe is cracked but still usable. The vent on one has been repaired, with the top cover being pop rivited in place, the other vent has been polished slightly to make it shine more like the civilian models. One has a blue pump knob marked Petromax, the other a plain, smaller diameter black knob. The pumps ARE positive locking, having cams that engage bumpouts on the cap to prevent the pumps from extending if the NRV leaks. The kit is missing the candles and candle lanterns, the gas can, and the spare globe has been used as there are pieces of broken glass in the box. The spare parts kit is still full, and having previously purchased a 250cp fuel tip and pricker for an Optimus 1200M, the kit alone is worth what I paid for the entire set. Both 4 language manuals are present, the spirit bottles, wrench, fuel funnel, spirit funnel, and a pair of mantles were also in it. The shades are in nice shape, only small dents in the rim of one and a few small chips in the other. The seller bought it decades ago and only had them for display, everything was is it was when he bought them and had them shipped to the US. One is stamped 3491 on the bottom of the fount, the other 3894, there is no date printed on the manuals that I reconize, but then again I also do not read German, Swiss, French, or Italian. I soaked the pump leathers overnight in neetsfoot oil, then this morning installed the mantles and burned them in. The lower mantle holder is a new setup for me and really unique in my collection. While they cooled I added some Coleman fuel, pumped them to just below the red line on thr guages, gave the vaporizors a quick prime, then filled the spirit cups and lit them. On one I turned the airscrew for max flow, the other I set for min flow- the one set to max ran a bit brighter so I will set the other to match when the are cool. I fully understand the issues running these on benzine due to the lack of positive shut off. With the locking pumps I'm not overly concerned and will use the same precautions I use with my other NVR gas burners. These will be mainly displayed with my boxed set of 1950's HodaCS Szeged military lanterns and my mint 1944 Coleman 252. Any information and corrections to what I have posted is wanted and welcomed! I would really like to be able to put a date period to these, even if it just what decade they might be from.
If you give me the tank numbers , I can date the age in seconds. The left pump cover was introduced by Petromax in the year 1962 and continued to be used by Hipolito until the mid-1980s . The right pump cover was introduced by Hipolito in the mid -1980s , also for the Swiss Geniol 523/821 army lamp , the successor to the Petromax 523/821 , probably in 1984.This pump cover is also available with a finer ribbing from 1993 onwards , but not for these army lamps.
Hello Reinhard, the tank bottom numbers are already visible between the lampshade and the picture with the burning lamps One is stamped 3491 on the bottom of the fount, the other 3894 Greetings Jörg
Nice Swiss army set. Is there no stamp on the inside of the lid ? No folding candle lanterns and candles?
As Jorg quoted above, 3491 and 3894 are the only numbers stamped on the fount bottoms. I hadn't noticed it but yes, there is a stamp in the lower right corner. JAN 1972 No, the candles, candle lanterns, and the gas can were already missing when the PO had them shipped to the US.
Oh yes , thank you @Jörg Wekenmann Both lamps were manufactured in 1969, 34th and 38th calendar week ,one on Monday and the other on Thursday. One lamp was subsequently fitted with a Geniol pump.
