petromax parafin lanterns - beware

ribrage

ribrage

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Has anyone else got a petromax lantern on board ? I know they sell them in Force 4, has anyone had any problems with them ? or am i alone ?

Mine has gone back to the supplier 6 weeks ago and im still awaiting a replacement, i dont really want a refund i want a re placement lantern but they are dragging their feet big time !

I have been told that there is a batch fault with the on off valve which allows parafin to continue filing the lantern but at a dribble which then in my case caught alight (very scarey) i asked if the faulty lanterns had been recalled..... err NO was the answer.

To check if yours is faulty take the top off so you can see the jet then pressurise the fuel container watch the jet if it starts to dribble then the parafin will collect around the internal collar and on start up will ignite causing the top of the lantern to catch fire.

I have emailed the factrory numerous times but to no avail, if anyone else has one that is faulty please contact me.

Ian
 
Thanks for the warning.

If anyone is thinking of buying a pafaffin pressure lantern I can thoroughly recommend the ones the Army uses - Vapalux -made in darkest Yorkshire as I recall - very reliable. I started with an Optimus lamp which looked very pretty but the mantle tended to shatter every time it was stowed because it was held at the top only. A knowledgeable friend recommended a Vapalux and I have never looked back - in fact, using it in the saloon every evening, it has lasted for months between mantle changes.

Very nicely made, too.

I've found a link....

http://www.bairstowbrothers.co.uk/vapalux/
 
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don't hesitate, this is a Trading Standards job. It's a genuine safety issue, and they will leap on it, especially as the firm has done dam' all about a reply.
 
The Vapalux lamps are by far the best. Best in the world. Standard equipment for the scientists and support crew in Antarctica. Ours is used A LOT and is still going strong after the best part of 2 years. Highly recommended.
 
Minn said:
Could this be a case where German engineering, product quality and after sales service are worse than British?

It rather seems so (and I was none too impressed with my Swedish Optimus, either.)
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Perhaps this statement from Wikipedia may hold the answer

"Producer is Kaiping Silveray in China"

Equally the brand name seems to be owned by a number of companies.

"In many countries "Petromax" is a registered Trademark, e.g. for the USA by Britelyt Inc. or for Germany and some other European countries by Pelam International Ltd"

And finally is it a real one?

"The Petromax design was and is often copied, today e.g. by Tower in China, Lea Hin in Indonesia or Prabhat in India."

Many years ago I used both Bialadin lamps and Tilley lamps and both would display the OPs problem if there had been some dirt in the fuel and it became lodged in the needle valve. Both lamps supplied a little pricker (just like the one supplied with Primus stoves for the same purpose) which you used to clear the offending dirt.
 
What about condensation?

CaptainBob said:
The Vapalux lamps are by far the best. Best in the world. Standard equipment for the scientists and support crew in Antarctica. Ours is used A LOT and is still going strong after the best part of 2 years. Highly recommended.
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These things give out a fair bit of heat as well, but what about water vapour? Don't they cause a lot of condensation in a small boat?

- W
 
webcraft said:
These things give out a fair bit of heat as well, but what about water vapour? Don't they cause a lot of condensation in a small boat?

- W
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Radiated heat is so much. When really cold outside, we stick it on the floor under the cabin table, but have the hatch open wide. Very toasty and no condensation problem. Awkward when it's raining though.

For light and less heat we put it on the table or top step of the companion way with the hatch open to some degree.

You do have to keep a bit of an eye on condensation - but it's managable.

And the atmoshphere the hissing, heat and light create is well worth a bit of "management".
 
I swear by Tilley's myself, having the mantle fixed top and bottom makes for a very robust lantern.
Mind you, collecting them is a hobby of mine, I have got about 30 at the last count. (All in working order, several of which are pre-war and as it happens only 1 is less than 20 years old!!). I also look after all the lanterns for my local scouts/cubs troop.
Newer models are relatively easy to come by on a certain internet auction site. The only thing to watch out for on the tilley is that if it has been over pressurised, the bottom of the tank blows out and the base seam WILL fail eventually.(Mainly more of an issue on the newer lanterns as the metal is much thinner.)
A good safety tip is to only have them pressurised when you are using them, if the lantern is turned off, release the pump a bit so that the fuel tank is at atmospheric pressure.
Ollie
 
OLLIE45 said:
I swear by Tilley's myself, having the mantle fixed top and bottom makes for a very robust lantern.
Mind you, collecting them is a hobby of mine, I have got about 30 at the last count. (All in working order, several of which are pre-war and as it happens only 1 is less than 20 years old!!). I also look after all the lanterns for my local scouts/cubs troop.
Newer models are relatively easy to come by on a certain internet auction site. The only thing to watch out for on the tilley is that if it has been over pressurised, the bottom of the tank blows out and the base seam WILL fail eventually.(Mainly more of an issue on the newer lanterns as the metal is much thinner.)
A good safety tip is to only have them pressurised when you are using them, if the lantern is turned off, release the pump a bit so that the fuel tank is at atmospheric pressure.
Ollie
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I'm surprised you are a Tilley fan! I bought a brand new one before getting the Vapalux. I had endless trouble with it. I went on a Yahoo group to ask for help and they basically said "of course you have problems, it's a Tilley". After Tilley support sent me about 3 parts to swap out I asked for a refund - they agreed without hesitation and to be honest, didn't sound very surprised. Their support was excellent - shame about the product IMO.

Then I bought this used old Vapalux of Ebay for peanuts, and it's been fantastic. Build quality is a world away from the Tilley.

Though I guess older Tilleys were built better - your collection is old ones? Not the ones with the aluminimum pump and wire frame that they sell new now?

Have you _tried_ a Vapalux?
 
A good safety tip is to only have them pressurised when you are using them, if the lantern is turned off, release the pump a bit so that the fuel tank is at atmospheric pressure.
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I am amazed that this needs to be said at all. But then paraffin pressure lamps that can be turned off without depressurising them are just fancy new-fangled devices to me.
 
Freestyle said:
I am amazed that this needs to be said at all. But then paraffin pressure lamps that can be turned off without depressurising them are just fancy new-fangled devices to me.
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The only reason I mentioned it is because that in Ribrage's original post, having it pressurised when not alight appears to be the cause of the problem.
I still stand by my old Tilleys, albeit I would never buy a post 1968 'modern one'. The fact that they need some TLC is all part of their charm. Each one needs a slightly different start up procedure and none of them burn the same.
After all would people ridicule every car that takes part in the London-Brighton rally just because their new Mondeo need less looking after? No of course they wouldn't!!!
Paraffin lanterns of any make, like the boats they provide light for should have one thing in common...... Character!!!

Ollie
 
I had a little word with the suppliers again today who gave me the number for their supplier which is Pelam International Ltd in Germany these are the importers of the lamps into the uk it would appear.

So far as Im aware it is a genuine lamp, if not its a very well engineered copy includinng the etchings in the pressure cannister at the base, very nice looking thing, which is why i want a replacement and not my money back.

I also got this far cheaper than the ones in F4 which is another good reason to hang on a little longer !

I tried calling the german number but couldnt get through at the time, so will try again tomorow.
 
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