Had a fit of pique and bought a brand new Petromax 150 set from Germany, the brass set with carry case and shade. It came with another one and a lamp radio (their ordering system messed up, I only paid for the lamp) still waiting for a return label (oh honest me). Onto the review... Looks, nice and small, super brassy and a brassy shade, the shade is of steel and plated (more of which later). Build quality, fair and value for money, the metal is a bit thin but it doesn't need to be any thicker. A consumer/engineer conflict (me). Some of the struts where not riveted fully (about a 1/2 mm gap) soon sorted with a hammer and punch. Running, ah, I bought the frosted glass, don't! You can't see what's happening (go for the half frosted one). Nevertheless, it works fine and is quite bright enough for personal reading (the shade helps a lot here). Being small it is a bit unstable when pumping, nothing too bad. You have to pump a lot because of the shorter stroke of the pump too. The shade, the description is 'guilded' (not brass like the rest of the lamp) the fact it is steel is not mentioned (magnet test). Because the bottom of the shade was also brassy the light was very yellow, soon sorted by spraying the bottom silver. Carry case, great if you keep the packing box in it otherwise it's just a thin bag no better than a 'bag for life' from the supermarket. All in all, a nice lamp and with the carry case it will all be in one place if it's needed. Not quite as easy to use as my Tilley storm lamp. The missus likes it better though (no glare, shiney and smaller). It is a keeper...
Nice review with interesting thoughts and conclusions. What is your main purpose for having this lantern - camping, boating?
Detailed review. I have two of the older Geniol lamps, one un lit from new. I find the operating 150 runs very hot but bright which can cause issues with the needle and vapouriser. I find these lamps very delicate and often require repair unlike the 500hk. Greetings from Ireland
Enjoying evenings outside with a book and no hi-tech (I do that for the day job). It does get a bit hot, quite nice on a cool summers evening to warm your hands, tried it last night. As to the delicateness, at least I got a 1/2 service kit with the lamp and a bunch of mantles. Should last a while for my useage. One further point, the rivets that hold on the label obscure the "up knob" arrow. This is the only thing one might forget when lighting it. I still like it.
Out of curiosity howith long to you preheat for and how? I find on the older Geniol type that the meths tray is too small for preheating and I need approximately 2min on the rapid.
Nice review, thanks. I was given one of these little 150's some 3 years ago - used for camping. A eally nice neat light - lasts well, though 2 fills for preheater as per instructions is necessary, The pressure pre-igniter is good - yes, you need to keep on pumping while using, but is a bit aggressive on the mantle and the meths method is gentler. These lanterns do run hot, and that can cause some engineering/reliability problems. Mine has been running ok for an hour but then getting yellow flame flare and soot inside the mantle. I spoke to the wonderful Brian at Base Camp who explained that the burning tends to move up from the mantle into the vapouriser tube. The key is tightness of the jet - tighten, and then overtighten till it squeaks, but not so you bend the tube! Also make sure that the china mantle carrier is tight - he recommends wrapping the ties of the mantle round the thread once a new mantle is installed - I tried this and, though I cracked the china with a pair of pliers (silly me - new one on the way) it does seem to have worked. Now needs a good 2hr burn to retest. The whole problem seems to be heat expansion loosening the threads of the china mantle carrier and the jet - even after tightening them cold, if they are checked hot they are loose(r). Next step might be tightening them after a good blast with a blow torch, but this is all too much hassle for a dark wet campsite night. I must admit that this tendency to burn the mantle is offputting, and I now prefer to take other lanterns with me when camping due to reliability issues. This is probably the reason for switching to Tilleys - current count 20 - (so only a beginner) - but I would like to trust the Petromax Geniol 150 a little more. I even made such a sweet box for it,,, Jonty
