This is a PETROMAX 835 from the fifties. She has 500CP. The older PETROMAX 835 always had 400 CP. Regards, Reinhard
A real classic those 'donut-tank' hanging lamps, @Reinhard . Is that one of the last pieces being manufactured in Germany? By the way, when were the last time pressurized-fuel lamps and lanterns being used popularly in Germany? I'm guessing just shortly after WWII and a few through the fifties?
@MYN, the majority was produced during the cold war era, I guess, for the NATO. That would be 1960-1970, these are the famous BW grey matt 500cp lantern in metal case. I doubt that they where made in Altena by Graetz because by that time Nikia was owner and Graetz mainly manufactured radios and other radio or radiologic equipement. Other part is civil defence (250cp Hipolito, AIDA) but also Coleman at least they where made for the dutch civil defence (BB, MD40).
Thank you @WimVe . My limited understanding is that most of the Petromax lamps and lanterns that were made in the sixties onwards were intended for export. So, I'm only guessing that the general populace of Germany had already phased them out from their daily use since the fifties or earlier.
@MYN, daily use af people living in home: yes. But light on working spots, was long not available. Railroad, traffic, construction workers or farmers still used the lanterns long after "city" people had banned this light source. After WW2 the whole of europe had to be rebuild at once. So the switch to electricity was obvious and replaced gas and kerosene fast.
I could still remember that the Petromax lantern clones, i.e. Butterfly, Anchor, etc were still being commonly used by roadside hawkers and peddlars here in Malaysia well into the late 70s and early 80s. Portable generator sets for electricity or even propane lanterns were uncommon. Probably a similar scene as 1930/40s Germany.
