Hi I am new to this list. I have several pressure lamps and a stove or two. Today I am working on my Optimus 930/350 and 1550/500. When I got them, they would blind me in the daytime. LOL Now many years later, I tried to fire them up. There was some fuel in the tank that smelled realy bad. I put in fresh, and lite them off. What I got was no leaks (Hurray!) But not that much light. They tried to work. I think they just need a good cleaning. So what do I clean with? (acatone?) And where do I find mantles? Would Coleman work? We have Amish in the area and of course they use pressure lamps, but they have no clue on pressure kerosene lamps. They use the tall Coleman gas type, with no globe. Now I am moving to "the sticks" and will want to use my lamps as some of the buildings do not have power. Thanks!
Hello and welcome aboard! Whenever I restore those types of lanterns, I completely strip them down and then start by cleaning the tank out. Put some ball bearings into the tank with some fresh paraffin/kerosene and then give the tank a really good shake for a while, then pour out the contents of the tank into a container and continue that process until what comes out of the tank is clean. The used paraffin can be stored for a week or so in a clear container and when all of the muck has settled to the bottom of the container, then pour the fuel through a funnel which has a mesh into a fresh container and the fuel be ready for use. The vapourisers/generators are often full of carbon, so I let them soak in vinegar for several hours and that loosens the carbon and any other muck. The pricker rods need to have the carbon removed and that can also be done by soaking them in vinegar. Your lanterns will probably need new jets and prickers, but you may be lucky and they will be okay after a clean, I use the vinegar treatment on them too. This is the method which I use and it works, but the final cleaning up has to be done by hand. Other collectors use other methods. Check all of the seals and washers. Restoring lanterns takes time and effort and at times trial and error, do let us know how you get on, Jeff.
Peerless number 24A mantles will be fine for your Optimus 1550/500 and they can be obtained from Old Coleman Parts, they also stock actual Optimus mantles which will be fine for your 930 lantern. Both of those types of mantles are shown on page 2 of their mantle list, the link below is for the website, Jeff. http://www.oldcolemanparts.com/home.php?cat=34&sort=orderby&sort_direction=0&page=1
If you use the vinegar method, then do remember to wash all of the items in fresh water, when you remove them from the vinegar, Jeff.
Thanks! I just ordered some mantles. (from Old Coleman) Thanks for the viniger idea. I'll be doing that too. I also have some old stoves that need to be brought alive. When they are up and working and looking nice, I pub some pics of the collection. Thanks again!
Your Optimus 930 350cp is a rare beast. They were only made for a year or so and are not at all common finds. Nice lantern to have. ::Neil::
From what I've been able to work out, the 930 350 was made from 1954 to 1957. So maybe 3 to 4 years. I don't know about rare, but certainly not very common. This thread shows there are lots of different methods for cleaning around. Probably a good idea to start with the less agressive methods first. Basically, find out what works for you.
Gosh, I didn't think the 930 was that rare, I have seen lots of them on the web and at marine swap meets in CA. The one I have has a clear handle that clamps around the tank. So I guess you could sort of use it like a flashlight. Or at least move it without burning your hand.
The 930 300cp is not rare. There are lots of those. They were made from 1957 to at least the 80s. It's the 350cp version which is not so common. The idea of the handle was that it was used together with a cloth shade to make it a table lamp.
930 is not rare. The post 1957 300cp lantern is perhaps the most common Optimus and there are certainly lots of them about. They look the same as the 350 until you look carefully. 350cp type has a bigger control wheel which is perhaps the first thing you might notice. There are two types. One has the inner hood fixed in place and the other has a different shaped alcohol cup. The big hint though is the tanks are stamped 350cp. Three years production may not make them rare but I have been collecting for 46 years now and only got these two 350 types in the past two years. Common they ain't. The glass handle was supplied with a cloth shade to convert the lantern to a table lamp. Almost invariably the shades are missing but the glass survives. Makes it model 930A. Have a look in the gallery because I think there is at least one there complete with shade. ::Neil::
Just getting back to this thread i used to use the vinegaer like you do jeff but was never really happy with the smell or its aggressive nature it works fine tho. I tried the citric acid but was hopeless maybe i did not get the right stuff or give it long enough Mick put me on to this stuff ebay item 260376547781 Safety Pickle used by jewellers for precious metals and the like i find it good as long as the metal is degreased first otherwise it takes a long time. I use it cold and leave stuff to soak for a bit then just rub it lightly with scotchbrite then polish or often just dry the item and leave it as it is. Maybe worth trying sometime i like it cheers pete
Success! Both the 930 and the 1550 were cleaned and re assmbled. Tested OK. How ever only mantle avail is the Coleman 21. So have proper mantles on order. A big thanks to everyone.
Here is my success. The 930 shining alongside my trusty 200a. I have had the colman for 30 years. I used to carry it in a saddlebag when motorcycle camping. A flash was used, so that colored the light a bit. The 930 was using a colamn 21a mantle, as my new ones havn't shown up yet. Does anyone make a lamp shade? These guys are SO bright. -Ralph
The Lantern shade on the Pelam site should fit, second one from the top; http://www.pelam.de/index.php?cPath=30_50_80
Wow, they have what I am looking for, but for a big disclaimer. NO SHIPPINT to USA. Gosh, what did we do to tick them off? Oh well, there is Britlite, when they have Petromax in stock.
The link that Flygt provided shows the site with the shades for the 350/500cp lamps, but for the Optimus 930 you will need the 150cp shade. It fits very well but you will have to remove the bail to put it on place, the cut outs are not big enough to slip it over the bail. You might want to try this shop, as far as I know they send worldwide, plus they are cheaper http://hytta.de/petromax/petromax-ersatzteile-fuer-150-HK-modelle,lst150.htm You'll need part P-21250 -Reflektorschirm - 150 HK · verchromt
