I believe this Chinese made Optimus is the first version of the 1551 model (ie it has the petromax quicklighter which I do not use). The lantern runs very very quietly and I have not pumped the pressure up real high and it burns fairly brightly as can be seen from the daylight photo below. The original globe is long gone and I added a frosted one which I had spare but it makes it harder seeing what you are doing lighting it. The pricker control and pricker work very well and I love the handle attachment and manometer on these. The chrome finish is real shiny but some moisture damage has occured and this is a problem with a lot of the Chinese made similar lanterns. I think it is from around the nineties but not certain.
I have never seen any proof that this is the first version of the 1551 but all evidence points that way. Quality wise there is not any difference except the type of quick starter fitted. It is very rare to find one of these without rust spots coming through the chrome. I have one of these that is probably the brightest lamp in my collection (for a 500cp rated lamp). The problem usually is that they need work before they do run well.
