Hi Tony. Not much correspondence from me of late. Extremely busy with work. Some progress in my fettling but nothing posted yet. My best mate and of childhood days had this lamp in an extremely poor state. I must have walked past it in the garden for years and did not notice it but until recently. I decided to restore it for him. It was completely coated with red and green paint. As always I now wish I’d photographed the before. His birthday in a couple of days so I’ve made an effort to be able to reunite him with this lantern by next weekend which I am well and truly on track to do. I know this lantern is closely related to the current 3/300 but the components are considerably different. Especially the gallery cover which I suspect has been manufactured by a very enthusiastic owner to replace him he original. It also seems to have had a very traumatic life. The pressure cylinder has had the bottom seal lead wiped and numerous dents appear to have been repaired by lead wiping. It has no markings at all. Any possibility of identification? Best regards, Dale
The hood is not Austramax, but workshop-made. The control wheel is earlier than the lantern behind, but the aluminium sorority cup is very early in the Austramax evolution. What does the pressure release screw look like? No markings? Any under the tank or on the collar that sits under the globe cage? Edit: Can you show a profile of the burner tube and cap (where the mantle ties)? Is it one piece or does the burner cap unscrew from the burner tube? Tony @Dale Main
@Dale Main , hi there, I’ve been looking at your parts, Note. The bolt that fastened the frame to the tank is early 2/300, the recess in your tank top looks as though it has bashed in, your tank looks a bit more squat, Not the old generator is a few mm shorter than a newer one, the picture is of an earlier 2/300, t bit fuel cap, the pump has the locking bit, two screws hold it on, the collar had an original Austramax 2/300 badge but has gone, still has holes where it was, I do like the work shop hood , very Cool, I hope my pictures help identify your friends Austramax, the meth burner alloy is new to me but not to say they don’t exist, looks coleman
@Dale Main *aluminium spirit cup! No sorority! These are found on some very early Austramax. Can you please look at the profile of the tank and compare it to the profile of the Austramax behind? Is it exactly the same shape or slightly squatter as Darryl has said. See here (very early Austramax on left): Edit: Note. The top of your tank looks pushed in… Cheers Tony
@Tony Press I think I have the same thoughts as you. @Dale Main We need some photos of things roughly where they belong. Is the collar missing or just not in the photo?
Dale, someone has gone to a lot of trouble to save that lantern. Manufacturing a hood and all that lead wiping.
Hi All, Thank you for your response. Some more photos posted. I’ll try to reply. The collar is present must have been left out. As Darryl’s collar the badge on this also missing. However is shorter than the collar in Darryl’s picture. Similar to 3/300 but has holes for label. The pressure tank is squatter than current model. I think as you say the top of the tank has been pushed in. The ‘generator’ (I’m not good at component names.) I don’t think is shorter. Different yes. The generator assembly sits at an angle due to damage. The burner cap unscrews. The pressure release screw is missing. I have inserted a 4mm screw. I’m not sure if I’ll find anything suitable. This lantern must be reunited with its owner today. It is great to know that someone had gone to a lot of trouble to repair this lantern. I was not sure that lead wiping was what I was seeing nor workshop hood. I don’t think aluminium will wear well though. Please see photos. Second go at uploading.
I don’t think we’ll fettled but this is really my first product off the production line. It’s a bit wonky. However considering what I collected last week I’m happy. I think it’s an Austrafrankenmax. Austramax 2/300 maybe at this stage. Thanks again.
Dale Does the tank look like the one in this tread (I think it does - scroll through the thread): Early Austramax Cheers Tony @Dale Main
Looking at the photos, I would say this is another example of the early Austramax. The tank shape is right and the parts (that are there) are also right. @Dale Main It looks like there is an extra fitting between the burner cap and the burner tube (the knurled part). Does this screw out of the burner cap and does the burner cap screw directly onto the burner tube?
Hi. I thought I replied to this. My apologies. It’s been a hard slog finishing off the year. Yes Tony the tank is more squat. The lamp is now back with a very surprised owner. We managed to eventually prevent all leaks. It burns very well. We even had it going last night and I expect it is presently still operating tonight.
Hi Nils. Yes the knurled component is a seperate fitting between burner tube and burner cap. Sorry for the long response. Regards, Dale
Dale Well… That is a very early Austramax — and very special. It’s only the second one I know of that has that shaped tank (see here). A great find and fettle. Congratulations. Tony @Dale Main
Dale Do you mind if I ask the Moderators to shift this thread to “Early Austramax” in the Reference Gallery, and change the title to “Early Austramax”? Cheers Tony @Dale Main
Hi. Thank you all and certainly Tony you may shift this post to a location you see fit. It’s quite remarkable that I have been walking past this lantern for more than ten years and until recently I never picked it up. It was in his garden as an ornament. Painted red and green and choked with dirt. Only recently that a noticed it was a a pressure lantern and decided to have a closer look and took it home. I’m very happy I did now and proud that such a lantern continues to light our get together. Many thanks to you all.
