1962 Petromax 829 Unserviceable NRV

Thanks Wim, that's handy to know.

 

@MG et al, thank you, a very useful thread with good content. I've just pulled a small NRV out of a 1960's Petromax 829, having never seen one until now. I would have been none the wiser had I have not read the thread.

The "offending" item:


Non-Standard NRV next to Standard Petromax NRV (Standard NRV Top):



Regards, Alex

 

The damned things are multiplying albeit five decades ago, i will have to get some more Petromax NRV's if i buy anymore Petromax's.

 

It might be a plan to have one in stock! To be far it is the first one I have seen in 15 Petromax's.

 

By those odds i should get a bit of breathing space on the next one then i'll have to see if i can find a couple of used ones as i've got a few replacement cones.

 

@MG I think our respective 829's are extremely similar in terms of internal condition. Varnish and carbon from the tank:

 

I have not flushed the tank yet or removed the rapid heater so i am hoping they are not too bad but yes they do look very similar, mine is certainly the worst lantern for carbon build up that i have come across, so has seen a lot of use, hopefully they will both run nicely once fettled.

 

Boy, the previous owner(s) must have run some high crap kerosene through your lanterns. I guess I've been real lucky. I've never had a carbon buildup like that. They should run really good once that carbon is all removed.

 

Are you writting that there is carbon build up inside the tank ?

 

@george

That's what i'm hoping,

@WimVe

There was a carbon like substance between the foot valve and filter/valve body.

 

@WimVe carbon from may be the wrong word for the residue that has come out of the tank. As you can see from the photo's the Rapid Heater and Vaporizer lower part are "varnished". The black dust in the yellow lid, not sure what it is comprised of, but it looks like carbon and has come from the tank.

 

@Alex Smith

I hope my tank isn't as bad as that!

 

@george - thanks, I am hoping so too. The external appearance of my 829 is extremely good, just got to get the internals right for a good light up. May be it got clogged early in its life, thus has not suffered the slings and arrows of too much use!

 

@MG hopefully not. I filled it with 10 bolts, left dry, and gave it a good shake which produced the dust. Another go this afternoon produced less of it, so I am getting there. I'll fill it with Kerosene (with the bolts) and go for a wet run later this week.

I also managed to resurrect a old standard NRV this afternoon to replace the "short" one, so progress is being made. I am looking forwards to getting this one on the "road", externally she is extremely straight.

Hopefully yours will go well too.

 

@MG, it just occurred to me that we both have 1962 Petromax 829's. The stamp on the bottom of the tank of mine reads:

0722, if I understand the 1960's codes correctly equates to; July, 1962, day 2.

Is yours fairly close? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Regards, Alex

 

@Alex Smith

I normally get mine serviced/dunk tested and then move on to cleaning out the tank (in case it leaks) so i will find out soon enough, i will have to shine a light in there and check

Mine isn't in as good condition as yours, its got a couple of small dents and the whole lamp had that sort of rough/aged finish which has mostly gone after a nice citric acid bath, it is my first Petromax so is a tester really to see if i like them.

Mine is stamped 0723 so you could be making the right noises!

I've also bought a spirit dish, new nipple, cleaning needle, new NRV so hopefully it won't need much else to make it run nicely but we will see.

 

@MG The date stamp on your tank is closer to mine than I though. I think they were assembled on the 2 and 3 days of July 1962. (0722 and 0723). If this is correct, it is a "small world" - guess the standard NRV's were not available in this week back in 1962!

Re spirit dish, it will be a good addition, I tend to do all my Rapid's.

I am chucking with the thought that both lanterns will be like "triggers new broom" once complete, I've salvaged a good NRV, got a good rapid pre-heat base and it will get the needle/nipple combo. So what started as a "cheap project" has picked up some additional costs - ho hum!

Here are some snaps of progress so far on mine (bit dark tonight, not the best shots):

 

Yes very close indeed,

I'm not going to remove the pre heater unless i have to, it isn't blocked so that's a start,

Looks tidy, i should of taken pictures of mine as it arrived but i never end up doing so,
My burner hood is very discoloured by heat but comes off ok with Autosol so i'll give it a polish once i know it runs ok.

 

@MG - The tale of the "short NRV" continues. A new (second hand) 829 arrived for me today (not that I need any more lanterns!). I'd presumed 1960's. On unwrapping my first thought was to check the base of the tank for the date (0625), swiftly followed by visit to the shed to get a large screw driver to remove the NRV "just in case"/idle curiosity. I thought the odds of getting anything other than a standard NRV low at this point. How I smiled and chuckled as another short NRV was pulled out! A chat with Basecamp will be required...... The period Jun/Jul 1962 seems to have a run of them!

 

@Alex Smith

At least you have spares, i wonder how clean it will turn out to be internally!

I spoke to Basecamp about mine and he'd not heard of one before but luckily i gave him the wrong measurement at the time as we thought a standard NRV wouldn't fit, if it hadn't i'd have been in trouble.

 

@MG Re spares, one advantage of a having a few Petromax to play with! Although this time I'll bite the bullet and order a new NRV assembly.

 

I'll be damned! Apparently this style NRV was "standard" at the time the lantern was made... still have my doubts. Just can't get my head around this. I have to be honest, I'm from the, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school. If the NRV operates okay then I leave it alone. I've probably replaced or fixed three or four NRVs in Petromax lanterns and never came across one of these.
This may be way off the beaten path but is it just possible that the pump barrel was in to the tank too far when they soldered it and therefore, the normal NRV hit the botton of the lantern in such a manner you could not tighten it down, and therefore they went to a shorter NRV to clear the botton?
This is only a pi.. poor guess, I guess..lol

 

@Alex Smith

Yes, i have plenty of Vapalux/Tilley spares but have to dig deep ish when buying from some other manufacturers.

 

@george

You must be lucky then as most of the lanterns that i buy have leaky NRV's no matter what manufacturer,

The standard sized NRV worked fine in my 829 luckily.

 

Humm, mystery deepens....

 

Checked all my Petromax lanterns (on paper) and I don't have one made in 1962!

 

@george a useful exercise checking the age of your Petromax's, I think it helps narrow it down. I suspect (although might be wrong) that the short NRV's are a 1962 item. Not sure of the reason why tho.

 

Well that is one of my 1962 beasties fettled. First run tonight, pleased with the result, nick named "triggers broom" (New NRV and rapid pre-heater assembly fitted) )

 

Then the NRV problem is solved?

 

@george yep, NRV problem solved. Fitted a refurbished standard size NRV, no problems fitting it either.