Interesting design, with some features reminiscent of old Optimus. The irregular hole spacing in the stamping leads me to suspect India, but that is just a gut feeling.
This design is clearly very similar to Aida 214, but stamped with a different brand. I also suspect that it is a clone because if some minor differences and the irregular stamping job.
It might be instructive to see if there is any marking on the brass valve castings. I have seen quite a few copies with different brand names on the castings and the tanks. There is no country of origin marked which suggests they were made in the Far East somewhere. Most cloned lamps are Petromax copies but these are not and that suggests to me they are not Chinese, Indian or Malaysian so perhaps made in Thailand. ::Neil::
I've seen a lantern with a fount that's marked Caro on one side and Hasag Presto on the opposite side. Made in Germany as stamped.
"SPECIAAL GARANTED" ??? Sounds like rubbish to me. Speciaal is dutch (or flemish), but garanted is no language (that I know of , but what do I know? ). Best regards, Wim
Well, "speciaal" and "garanted" is nearly English. I suppose they simply reproduced 'Hasag' and 'Made in Germany' from whatever it was they copied and added a bit of their own 'Chinglish' spelling...
The lantern was on sale by a vendor at a flea market. I did not buy it as I could not find any references for a 'Caro' lantern. So...anyone might have any ideas about a Caro brand?
Do you know what the HASAG model number was and do you have an image of the complete lantern. ::Neil::
Unfortunately, no. But if I've not recalled wrongly, the upper section/frame and hood was almost similar to a 1930s Petromax 826. No nametag. Hood had two screws at the top. Pricker wheel was not original. Fully metal pump knob and cap. Couldn't recall there were any model numbers on the lantern. It did not appear like any Hasag lanterns that I'm aware of.
If it's looking almost like a Petromax 826 then it should be a Hasag 252. The Hasag 52 also looks similar but uses a different construction of the inner/outer hood. The air screw on the filler cap looks like the pre-war versions. But that doesn't fit the design of the pump. Maybe somehow cobbled together... some photos of the complete lantern would surely help. <edit:> The "Presto" should be the Hasag 152. But this one would have a torch preheater which I cannot see on the photos. That would also fit the two screws on the cap. But in my opinion this is most likely not a lantern in original condition...
Mind you these are two different lanterns as far as I see. The dutch/flemish text may point to (south)Africa or west/east Indies. They tend to mix dutch with english and local language.
I remembered it was almost but not exactly like a Hasag 252 or Petromax 826. I did make a comparison while I was checking on it sometime back. Just couldn't find any numerals on the 'HASAG-CARO' lantern. The oblong slots on the hood and frame were slightly larger than what you would find on a Hasag 252 or Petromax 826.
If it looked like a 252 then with the markings on the fount it is very likely that originally the lantern was a 152. It may have been fettled with parts from other makes but for my purpose in recording it that doesn't matter. thanks for this. ::Neil::
With regard to the first two lanterns, 'First Quality' is a phrase I have come across quite a few times in relation products made in India.
