G'day all, I was wondering what the definition of a "classic pressure lamp' really is. Does age matter? Does style matter? Does manufacturer matter.....??? I found this forum very recently after buying my first lamp, a 1940's Kayen. It is interesting to me that I have seen lamps on this site, many much older, many much younger than the lamp I bought. Are all of them classic, are some of them classics, is mine a classic? I recently saw a 1990's lamp proudly listed. Initially I thought, "Can this be a classic?" "Surely, a 1990's lamp can't be a classic, compared to perhaps 100 years or more of earlier lamps?" I then thought, "Well, what does classic exactly mean" I've heard, games of football played yesterday described by the commentators as a classic. Otherwise, I have heard commentators state, that "In years to come this game will be regarded as a classic." I've seen recent movie and music releases described as classic. I've also seen recent movie and music releases described as possibly becoming classics. Here in Australia, many moons ago, a car called the P76 was released. It was widely condemned as one of the worst cars ever released. The car was the butt of jokes from Prime Ministers to Prime Deadbeats. I can assure you that now, a P76 in good condition, will cost you a whole lot more than its release price. The P76 has gone from an absolute joke and financial disaster for the manufacturer, to be widely accepted as a classic. So my friends, keeping to this sites theme, what is your definition of a classic lamp?
Hello Matty, in my opinion, that term can be applied to any pressure lamp which the individual collector considers is a classic, Jeff.
Agree, whatever floats your boat... If you think the world of the lantern then in my opinion it's a classic - at least in your eyes. And that's all that counts. This is a great hobby and so diverse. Welcome to the forum and enjoy!
It's the word "classic" that needs defining, and in this case Wikipedia pretty much nails it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic
Jeff and George, I now agree with your thoughts. Dereks' wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic description, also opened my mind to accept that my initial (albiet brief) thoughts, that something had to be quite old to be considered a classic, was wrong. Besides, time flies, it's not like the 90's are just behind us. Something made in the 90's can be up to 25 years of age. Just in case I hadn't come across very clear, it was never my intention to 'judge' the 90's lamp. It was more or less 'judging' the word classic.
I just smirk when I hear an teenager referring to a popular movie as "a classic". Time is the measure IMHO.
classic gives more scope to collect than 'antique' does, for example. And most importantly I don't have to wear twead to qualify as a collector of 'classic' things.
Some of the shows I attend state older tha X years tobe included as a "classic" usaully with reference to cars... I think with regard to my lamps they just seem to accept that any lamp running on liquid fuel fits in the "classic" or "bygone" catagory. I guess if the Tilley 246B fits the catagory and I'm sure it does then pretty much anything will... More vintage than classic then...
When does "classic" morph into decrepit - or dotage come to that. I guess it all depends on the state of the item. "Vintage" is another mis-used word. In the vehicle world it is defined as being a vehicle built between 1919 and 1930 (prior to it's a Veteran), yet it too is used for many things including clothing from the sixties and seventies. My knees are feeling a bit veteran today, but nice to see young blood in the collecting world.
I tend to think of Classic as being the inovative influential lamps that changed the game. So Coleman Quick-Lite lamps and lanterns which started the match lighting game. Coleman slant generator lamps first of the Instant lighting. Early Petromax with Preston loops generators; a real game changer. There are others of course. ::Neil::
If you by Classic think what lamps traditionally was used, then the outdoorlamps probably was most common all over. If so then the Classic lamp are roughly Tilley Guardsman in the UK, Petromax 826/828 in Germany, and the Coleman 200's + the Coleman Arc-lamp in the US. In Scandinavia the Primus 1020 and later the Optimus's became traditional lamps. All over the asian part of the World the Petromax became a synonym for pressurelamps in general and that is also partly like that in spanish talking countries. To me the prototype of a lamp is the Petromax 826/828 which is made soon in 100 years with almost no changes. A stunning succes and still buyable as new. Claus C
