I believe this Chinese made Optimus is the first version of the 1551 model (ie it has the petromax quicklighter which I do not use). The lantern runs very very quietly and I have not pumped the pressure up real high and it burns fairly brightly as can be seen from the daylight photo below. The original globe is long gone and I added a frosted one which I had spare but it makes it harder seeing what you are doing lighting it. The pricker control and pricker work very well and I love the handle attachment and manometer on these. The chrome finish is real shiny but some moisture damage has occured and this is a problem with a lot of the Chinese made similar lanterns. I think it is from around the nineties but not certain.
I have never seen any proof that this is the first version of the 1551 but all evidence points that way. Quality wise there is not any difference except the type of quick starter fitted. It is very rare to find one of these without rust spots coming through the chrome. I have one of these that is probably the brightest lamp in my collection (for a 500cp rated lamp). The problem usually is that they need work before they do run well.
@Nils Stephenson , I agree the evidence on the versions is darn tricky to establish presently. A few more catalogs or documents might resolve it. I do think these type of starters are in the middle era (perhaps mid-80ish) and the red plastic type follows later. There is an earlier type to be found on other models such as the 1500G and possibly the 1200G. Is this how you see it presently in the absence of that proof? Were they made by the Anchor manufacturer as I see the same type of green spirit bottles with Anchor, Tingkwon and the Optimus 1551 later models?
I am fairly certain that the 1551 wasn't made until the 90s. Maybe the very late 80s. The predecessor for the 1551 was the 1550, which started in 1957 and went through about seven variations until it ended at the end of the 80s (maybe overlapping with the 1551 into the early 90s). I have not seen any dated catalogues or brochures from the period, so it is only a best guess as far as the timeframe goes. The 1551 was made at the same factory as Anchor.
