My Petromax lantern arrived a couple of days ago. Took advantage of the recent lull in news to test it out. Here's my take on this much discussed lantern.

First, it's built like a tank. I haven't seen products engineered like this for long time. Second, it's beautiful, a real work of art. Spent the first night reading the directions and wiping my finger prints off the shiney chrome finish. Couldn't decide whether to use it or mount it as my new hood ornament :)

When I went to put the first mantle on, the asbestos string on the mantle had already been tied in a tight knot. I ended up breaking the string (which makes the mantle useless). Fortunately, the lantern came with two extra mantles and I soon had a new mantle installed. By the way, if you're familiar with the Coleman lanterns, you find the Petromax mantles are huge.

Tonight I decided to give the lantern a try and filled it with 1-K kerosene. After reading Diana's directions as well as some of the comments here, I understand why some of you are have a bit of trouble with the pump. I roughed up the leather a bit and added a few drops of oil (per the directions). I'm also familiar with the Coleman gas lanterns and know what the pump is supposed to 'feel' like when it is pumping effectively. Before oiling the leather, I could barely get the pump to work. After oiling and playing with the 'feel' of the pump handle a bit, I didn't have too much trouble bringing the lantern up to starting pressure. (BTW, that pressure gauge is excellent - takes the guesswork out of it.)

I lit the pre-heater with no problem and burned the new mantle until it was ash. (The Coleman mantles have to be pre-burned with a match.) After a minute or two I turn the operating know down to the 6 o'clock position and presto - mantle begins to glow. Pumped the pressure up to the "3" indicator and the lantern has been burning quite brightly for the last 4 hours in the back yard. Puts out a LOT of light on high but can easiler be adjusted to low. Yes, we got the reflector for it as well.

It short, I'm delighted. I didn't have too much trouble with the pump but I attribute that to Diana's directions, my experience with the Colemans, and the comments several of you have made here. I could certainly see why this would cause trouble for some folks. I know Mrs. Rimmer will have a bit of trouble with this until she gets the feel of it.

If you try to push to hard/quick on the pump, the leather seal fails (just for that stroke - not permenantly) and so no/little air gets compressed into the tank. If you don't press hard enough, you can't get the plunger to move to the bottom. It does take a bit of getting use to...

Now, is the lantern expensive? Yes, indeed it is. But is it overpriced? I don't think so. I have not seen anything engineered this well - when you take off the nuts of the handle to remove the cover, the nuts are specially designed to stay attached to the handle so you won't accidentally lose them, pressure gauge built into the fuel cap, heavy-duty construction throughout.

The only bad thing was the 6 week delivery time on the unit (and the case is still backordered) but Diana is pleasure to work with and really does try to keep the customer happy. And she is a bit cheaper than other sources for the Petromax (Nitro-Pak, et al.). For those not familar with her southern style, you may be a little apprehensive/put out by it but having grown up in Oklahoma, it didn't bother me at all...and it beats the &*$# out of your typical New York business establishment. BTW, she's sending be a replacement for the mantle that I broke

Diana's directions had me rolling on the floor laughing (how many directions have you read that use the word 'thingy' but hey, I read and followed them and they did work.

This lantern is truly the Cadillac of its class.

Anyway, that's my take. Your milage may vary....

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), March 12, 1999

Answers

Well, Arnie, I spent the whole day struggling with mine, blisters on my fingers, etc. trying to figure out how to get it up to pressure and lit. I have never used a Coleman, and never used anything like this, so figure it is my fault.

Finally got it going, though, and hope I am doing it right. I don't think I have the leather right or I haven't figured out how to plunge yet. Makes me mad at myself to realize that I am so dependent upon a wall swi

-- housemouse (jgj@nevermind.net), March 13, 1999.

Thanks for the feedback Arnie.

I've waited over a month for mine now, still waiting. And after reading previous posts on the Petromax, I was ready to cancel my order. But reading yours, I might just wait and see. I'm pretty good with instructions and getting things to work (hey, I can use all functions on my VCR and the clock doesn't flash "12" ;-)) "If all else fails read the instructions" is what I keep telling hubby ;-) He still can't get my slow-burning catalitic fireplace insert to work right, I get it to red hot in 10 minutes on slow combustion. It took a bit of time and practice.

Has anyone tried their Petromax with Ultra Pure oil, or inside?

-- chris (catsy@pond.com), March 13, 1999.

Arnie --- great post. Your experience very similar to ours. A bit of work but ideally suited to its purpose. I do think the idea that it puts out 400 watts is way exaggerated, but 150 might be about right. And it will heat a small space up somewhat, a bonus except in the summer. Don't forget that it makes a great camping light, with or without Y2K; and their little kero cook stove likewise.

Chris -- we've used the Ultra Pure in it (though I'll be using taxed kero next year) and it worked fine indoors. I don't think it would hurt to keep a fire extinguisher handy, tho, for Petromax, Aladdin or Coleman ....

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 13, 1999.

We also had a time getting it to work but once it started to build pressure it was much easier. I added oil in the process and perhaps the leather has to work in a bit. During the initial pumping strokes, it produced intermittant results. There was back pressure on one but then absolutely no resistance on the next.

We wondered if a screw-on cap might be produced that held a tire valve? We have some old coleman lamps that were either made that way or were modified to allow for pumping with a bicycle pump. Might they be available in some usable form already?

Me.

-- Floyd Baker (fbaker@wzrd.com), March 13, 1999.

Have lamp oil in mine. Had a lot of trouble, 20 minutes to get it up to pressure at first. Second time easier. Last time I cleaned nearly _all the oil off of the leather, worked great. In 5 minutes the whole thing was up and running. Not much different than a Coleman.

Have the reflector, makes it very nice to go walking or working at night outside, keeps the light out of the eyes. Dogs don't seem to like the bright light at night however during the walk - they walk way behind or way in front - different than with a flashlight.

Last time I decided to try it inside a 14x20x8 foot room. It lit the room well. The heat warmed the room. What wasn't expected was the kerosene odor, much heavier than comes from a kerosene wick lamp. I experiemented with lantern placement in the room. Unless you have a taller ceiling I cannot see hanging it from the ceiling - the heat would be a problem, and running into the lantern is a certainty. However when I took it and held it against the white wall, suddenly I knew why Lehman's sells Victorian lantern wall reflectors. So I've figured that one of those Lehman reflectors or one made using mirrors glued together using the Petromax reflector as the template, and an arm extending from the wall to hold the lantern will both be necessary for full use of the lantern.

I wish the Petromax had hinged shades that could be lowered around the lamp in order to control the 360 degrees of light.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), March 13, 1999.

Forgot to say... Think the 400 watt brightness may depend on the type of fuel burned. Probably more attainable with coleman fuel than kero as I am using now. Still bright but not quite. Me.

-- Floyd Baker (fbaker@wzrd.com), March 13, 1999.

Mitchell -- Agree with you about odor. This surprised us, though we can live with it.

Floyd -- Good tip, will try that.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 13, 1999.

I used mine at an evening BBQ down by the river in Texas. I used coleman fuel. I managed to make it a towering inferno for a minute. That happens if you turn it on before it has preheated enough. I hung it from an oak tree and it gave us a great light for hours. This is is definitely a great camping lantern. Inside the house it gave an odor my wife did not appreciate. Hopefully parts will be available for years.

-- Frank Adams (fadams@ourtownusa.net), March 13, 1999.

Hi, Folks!!

Thanks for all the positive comments on the lantern. You folks really know how to brighten a gal's day. (Smiling)

Anyway......As we were shorted on our imported shipment, the last time, we were not able to get out those orders as fast as I like. However, we are shipping out orders now, and, since the manufacturers are adding the "shorted" products, we will be able to get all these orders out, during the first weeks of April. Our shipper assures me that these products will be arriving to them at the end of March, so.....depending on how long customs takes....well, you know how the government process works.

Anyway.....For all those interested, we do have a nickel-plated back reflector (slides around the glass area), that will direct the light forward. Also.....we are going to be offering the Petromax 150's, which put out 100-watts of power. They are the "babies", and are SO cute. They run on one (1) pint of fuel, and go for about 20 hours. If you want to order these, I will special order them for you. I am also contacting the exporters about getting the wallmounts for these. The sailboaters used them, with no problems.

Thanks again, folks. Also....don't forget that if you have any problems getting these started, or just need to know more, please don't hestitate to contact "Eddie". He has over 30-years experience with these products, and will be glad to help. We are working on getting parts kits together, as requested, and will let you know the prices for these kits later.

Backordered mantles are being shipped out now. If you need extras, let us know. Re-orders are sent out via U.S. Mail (unless otherwise specified), so you're only charged for postage.

Thanks again, and KEEP SMILING!!

Diana....BriteLyt 727-856-9245

-- Diana Clifton (diana@petromax.com), March 14, 1999.