This is one of the types of Veritas the Dutch Army used. I also have them from DA in brass and slightly different models. They all work perfect to me, without cleaning the jet for every use fx. I would like to know more about this solid built lamp, that runs perfect on gasoline. Some collectors seem to love to hate it, but other collectors I know finds them very stabile and easy to use. What's the fuss with Veritas? Claus C
The fuss is because this Dutch Army job is supposed to be a kerosene lantern and they don't work on kero. We know they run well on gasoline but that was not the manufacturer's or the army's intention. Veritas 350 models are pretty good although I don't like the quality much. The Superb is a good looking cranky beast that some times is good but mostly burns the mantles black. This is another one that runs OK on gasoline but again that is not the intened fuel. ::Neil::
In the yellow label at pkt. 1, it says in dutch "Gebruik schone loodvrije benzine." (use only unleaded coleman-gasolin". Is this label added later?, I can see it is marked "Ametrago N.V. Amsterdam, Holland" at the buttom of the label - though the label starts "Verias P350, Made in England". Looks unmistakeable to me. One of the biggest aspects of quality to me is thing will lasts and this lamp is made so you can use the hood as a helmet if needed, I realy think a small person can sit on the lamp. Claus C
Possibly the generator nozzle is too big?...Kerosene lanterns use a smaller tip opening than the regular "white gas", could be interesting to test the theory.
Now I thought the English version of this lantern was simply the Veritas 350 which makes me wonder about the designation 'P'. Did this signify 'petrol' (in English) i.e. gasoline? I also wonder about the 'leadfree' reference because at the time these lanterns were made (whenever that was), surely we didn't have leadfree petrol. That might suggest that the label was, in fact, a later addition. As Weirdnerd suggests, further investigation would be interesting. But whatever happens, I'm not running any of my Veritas lanterns on 100% Coleman, panel wipe or anything similar - I've already had one interesting experience using just 10% panelwipe in a Superb...
In fact there are two version of this lantern: The difference is in the detail: the gasoline version has a "coleman" type pump. Unscrew the bottom seal, then hold you finger on the hole in the knob. This is the lantern shown. The kerosene version has a standard pump we all know to well.
Yes, I noticed the Coleman-type pump. So is it definitely a case of conventional pump is kerosene and Coleman pump is unleaded gasoline / Coleman / white gas / panel wipe etc.? One would tend to think so because the Coleman pump has extra features to make it suitable for the more volatile fuel - e.g. lockable NRV and extension tube to bring the inner pump end above the fuel level.
This is the kerosine-type, Wim's talking about. and the mark wich really looks later attached: "Gebruik schone kerosine" - Use only kerosene. No wonder mistakes could happen in a dark dutch forrest Claus C
Is it recommendable to use gasoline in both these lamps? How is it possible to date them? I have the same versions in brass Claus C
No is is not safe to use gasoline in both. The Coleman type pump is OK with gasoline but the other normal European style pump certainly is not. ::Neil::
Claus, You show us both types, so why ask for the fuel again ? One is for benzine the other one for petroleum. If you take a closer look there are more differences between both lamps. I have never checked the jets but I guess they also are different. Or should at least.
Hi Wim I have confidence to Neil's information and I am pretty sure that the lamps maybe on long term dont run well on the recommended fuel. I can read the signs on the lamps but if that leads to a misburning lamp then there is no point of using the signs. What lamp is it to give the Veritas-army lamp the bad reputation? Was it the gasoline-lamp P350 there was ment from the start to be a multifuel-lantern but failed? Did the dutch army later order kerosine-lanterns because the multifuel-lanterns failed? I would like to know this story wich appears not only here on CPL but in other forums also. And I did only ask to the fuel once btw . Claus C
I rather suspect we have been confused about these lamps. I was not aware until this discussion that there were two versions of Dutch Military Veritas. From this chat there were obviously two types. The standard 350 for kero and the P350 for gasoline. I can't find my paper on these right now but it is perhaps possible that we have had the instructions for the kero version and have assumed this was the P350 and I can tell you this model does not work on kero. Now we know there were two the whole deal makes more sense and perhaps we have been maligning a misunderstood lamp. ::Neil::
Neil, You ARE getting old I guess two years ago we discussed this at my place. And you pointed me towards the coleman style pump versus the fuel to burn.....
Hmmmm. Yes thanks for that. Nothing wrong with my memory but remind me, do I know you? You are right of course but I don't remember knowing there was a kero version as well. ::Neil::
