Solar 'Spit-Fire' 500cp lantern - Union Metal Works, Hong Kong

I received this today through the post but unfortunately the globe didn't survive. The seller told me he would wrap the glass separately but he simply left it in position so it was smashed by the time I got it.

It also came with it's original instruction sheet.





I haven't lit it yet but that'll happen shortly.

 

That's a shame, it doesn't look in bad condition though Colin.

 

It's a great shame the globe got broken because it's a unique size and much larger than a standard Petromax or clone globe. The diameter is the same as a Coleman 295 but it's roughly .5 inches shorter!

If anyone knows of any readily available globes of approximately the right size I'd be grateful.

 

I was very disappointed about the glass, but it cleaned up very well. The central screw that holds the frame down just wouldn't move so I had to leave it in place and clean it partially assembled. I might try to cut a replacement Coleman globe but I'll need a much better diamond cutting disk!

 

I'm pretty sure i may have a spare Solar glass that size , i'll look tomorrow

 

The old girl pulses quite a bit and was threatening to flare up so I'll check the vaporising tube and add a coil of copper wire or some mesh to aid in the heat transfer.

 

If you did, that would be tremendous!

 

It also came with a Tilley mantle (why?) and a bag of spare parts: 2x pips, a manual pricker, a spare pricker tip and a pricker tip taker-offer.

 

The build quality of those Solar lanterns is good!

 

I don't know how old it is (is there a way to tell?) but it feels solidly built... after collecting a few lamps you just get to know.

One odd detail I noticed... the base of the lamp is bare brass.

 

A member sent me a replacement Solar globe and it now looks complete again.



There were a couple of problems however. The rivets that hold the frame rods top and bottom were all loose. I tried hammering them tight but it didn't work so I opted to remove the rivet ends and use 3mm screws instead. Having removed the rods I ground the ends down, drilled and tapped the holes and reattached the rods.



The next problem was the central securing bolt which had been overtightened at some point in the past. The slot had been churned so badly you couldn't undo it so it had to be drilled out. I then polished the inaccessible places and reassembled everything... this time using a nut to fasten the threaded rod down.

 

She’s looking great @ColinG
You’ve done a top job of restoring her, well done.
Cheers
Pete

 

Nice lamp, Colin. And interesting repairs too. This Solar's from British-Hong Kong.
Its likely that this lamp was made in the 1960s.

 

Thanks Myn. In general it's a well made lamp but it's not been treated very well in the past. The non standard globe was a surprise as is the altered geometry... I can't see the motivation for using a wider glass with all the tooling changes needed since most other Petromax and clone lamps don't bother. And why not use an existing size of globe like the Coleman 220/295 which is only 10mm taller. Still, it's a good looking lantern.

 

Looking better now Colin.....these were sold during the power cuts in the 1970s, so will be made prior to that

 

Well preserved a lantern.

 

Union Metal Works, Hong Kong (Unimet)

https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/union-metal-works-unimet-hong-kong.13919/

Cheers

Tony

 

Thanks, that was an interesting article!

 

I know that it isan old post but i have great news for those who search for glass. The glass ftom Primus 1020 fits, is shorter than the original but almost( if not the same) diameter. The original Primus 1020 glass is 122/122mm. (according todays measurement) and Solar 123/128mm.
Cheers,
Francisc

 

Thanks for the information, and despite being an old thread, knowing that a Primus 1020 glass fits is extremely useful. I now know that the Primus 1020, Veritas 350, Radius (forget the model), Solar 500 and the largest Gaz lantern all share the same or very similar dimensions.

 

Looks great Colin!

 

Radius 118 / 119

Alec.

 

And 115, 116 and 120. Sorry, couldn't help it.

 

That's the one... Radius 119... and all the others of course!.

Someone on the site was collating a list of lanterns globe sizes but I haven't heard anything about it recently. It would be extremely useful.

 

I was thinking on that. It would be a great resours for all off oss.
I should think on a way that more can contribute and how to create it.
What data would need?
Type : straight /bulge/ conical /shade
Dimensions : upper diam, lower diam, middle diam (for the bulge), hight, thickness
Dimensions in cm/mm and inch?
What more?
Cheers,
Francisc

 

That sounds pretty comprehensive to me.

 

Perhaps this list could be useful :

GLOBE SIZES:

Aladdin A 1 – 125 x 119 m/m High

Austramax – Original Bulge Type Same as Coleman 242, 249

Austramax – Replacement Straight Sided 90 x 106 m/m High.

Coleman 242, 249 Bulge Type 90 x 113 x 90 x 115 m/m High

Coleman 214 111 x 116 m/m High.

Coleman 282 112 x 113 m/m High.

Companion – Gas Model – Small 81 x 82 m/m High.

Gloria - Same as Handi 103 x 113 m/m High.

Handi – Original – Bulge Type 103 x 113 m/m High

Handi – Replacement Straight Sided. 100 x 110 m/m High.

Primus – Gas 2152 (Same as Coleman 214) 110 x 117 m/m High – Frosted

Solar - Hong Kong 125 x 128 m/m High To be confirmed

Solex – Italy (Replaced with Austramax) 89 x 107 m/m High – Cracked

Cheers.

 

@Paul Aslanides great start. I can add most Swedish lamps and some coleman, Tilleys, bialladin.
Confirm the dimensions for the "Solar - Hong Kong 125 x 128 m/m High To be confirmed". I have the original glass.
Cheers, Francisc

 

Ok. I will make a spreadsheet of the sizes, manufacturers, models, shape, frosted/clear etc.

There are different ways of updating it once its been created but if it were put on the site as a downloadable version, ot could be added to over time. Don't know what the moderators think of this idea or if they have to some better solutions.

With original globes getting harder to find, a resource like this will be increasingly useful.

 

OK, I've made a start and included all the different lantern globes I have but now I need to get it to other members so they can add theirs.

Watch this space while I wait to find out how my spreadsheet can be shared.