This lantern came to me in pretty good condition. I striped it down to clean and replace the PIP in the NRV. The vapouriser had no carbon inside and didn’t need cleaning. From the general condition of the lantern I would say it had very little use. The font is stamped twice with: COUGAR Model- CG5300 FOR KEROSENE ONLY The stampings are opposite each other, half way between the filler cap and the pump tube. (the Cis very faint and the top of the R didn't form properly) The collar has the Austramax sticker attached General details The font is brass with a Stainless steel bottom The pressure bleed is brass but there is a plastic insert replacing the needle to make the seal. The burner (nozzle) has a pressed screen The vapouriser has a brass mesh insert. The control Knob is the later pointed style The pump piston is an ‘O’ ring design The knob on the pump is aluminium and so is the hood nut The NRV is larger than standard primus type and has a screwdriver slot rather than the raised 5mm head for removal. The hood is enamelled steel in blue with white speckles and four holes for the bale The bale is the first version of the new square style handle that only has short ends where it clips into the burner The glass is bulbous and marked with Austramax. This lantern looks to be the same as this 3/300 Austramax lantern. First version of the new stainless steel base. Austramax 3/300 Lantern with a stainless steel based font
Preheating Testing the lantern on the bench with no mantle (a little orange?). First testing of the lantern in the shed. The lantern is fitted with an Austramax mantle and generic glass (didn’t want to risk breaking the original glass at this stage)
@Tony Press Thanks Tony. I started looking at the Cougar Camping Equipment but haven't found much yet. A couple of adds for 1979 but no mention of the lantern. I can remember it from the late 1970's and 1980's but can't remember when it ended. Yes, the beer is good and it was hot in the shed this afternoon.
Very nice Cougar there . Same as my 2 but my ventilators are green . Cougar stuff was painted green, stoves gas bottles etc ,lanterns . Still a good Austramax in disguise. Bob .
That's a very interesting lamp you have there Martin. So far I have only seen Cougars with the green top, as Bob says. It looks like it is Austramax from the tank up and only a Cougar tank, but why would anyone do that. It looks too unused to warrant a rebuild. A bit of a mystery. The sticker on the collar is also a bit of a mystery as I have only seen them with black writing on Austramaxes (Cougars usually have gold writing).
@Lamp_Doctor G'day Bob, Thanks I did wonder about the blue hood. G'day @JEFF JOHNSON , @Norman , Thanks I'm happy with it. @Nils Stephenson G'day Nils , I did wonder about the blue hood and considered it may have been clanged. The Austramax label on the collar also raised a question mark. But it is the only Cougar I have seen and only one in the reference gallery (small image and fuzzy detail) so I decided to post and see what members think. The Austramax label being red and not black didn't register with me so thanks for pointing it out. It is possible that the top half of the lantern was badly damaged and replaced but you would think it would have been cheaper to buy a new lantern rather than that many spare parts??
Martin . Checked mine on collar and its gold type colour . top line reads rustproof cougar pressure lantern . My spare one right label but no paint left . Just noticed both brass burner castings are painted black. Bob .
@Lamp_Doctor Thanks Bob, It's looking like this lantern has had a major rebuild. . At least the components are period correct.
Martin I wouldn’t be too quick to conclude it’s a “rebuild”. If there was damage to the tank to indicate an accident, then that’s a logical conclusion. But there are not enough Cougar examples around to say this was not made for Cougar, or assembled by Austramax. We’d better go on the hunt for Cougars. Cheers Tony @ROBBO55
You are right Tony, there is not enough known about the Cougar lantern. A Cougar hunt sounds like the right idea.
I have a cougar, green top, havent paid much attention to it as of yet, but now seeing this post ill check it out a bit more. Very cool lantern
Darryl . Could you check out the top brass casting to see if its painted with a black paint etc . Bob .
Martin I saw this one today (unfired). It belongs to a Hobart collector (when I’ve got a chance I’ll photograph it properly and put it in the Reference Gallery): Same pump; gold “Cougar” instructions on collar. It had a red-“Austramax” glass. Note: brass casting not painted black. Tony @ROBBO55 @Lamp_Doctor
@Tony Press Tony, Your quick off the mark bagging the first Cougar Looking forward to the photographs in the ref. gallery. There seems to have been a few hiding in collections among the members. Thanks @Digout rebuild of not it's a nice lantern. @Darryl Durdin when you do post a new thread in the reference gallery.
Martin It’s not my Cougar. But I’m sure its owner will let me give it a complete once over with the good camera. Cheers Tony @ROBBO55
