I had hoped that this wouldn't turn into an acquisition disorder like with my stoves, but I appear to be losing the battle. After getting a Coleman 639 and then 237 : Coleman 639 questions I now have acquired my first Petromax-style lamp. I wanted to be sure to get a German made one rather than a later Chinese, so went with the Aida. She fired right up. I couldn't figure out how to use the Rapid Preheater (I think it might be clogged, will try to clean it after it cools down) so used the alcohol cup. Came with the original box, unopened envelope of spare parts and tools, spirit bottle and funnel, and instructions.
Nice! I like the Aida brand. Maybe it's the orange plastic thingies! Just a great all around lantern!
Date code on the bottom is 3957. If my Google Fu is correct, that means October 3, 1965 (Year 1965, 39th week, 7th day).
@Rich_S Gee, I’m sitting here trying to decode the date code 3957 using the methodology you provided in your post, and , although I don’t doubt you at all, I cannot see the pattern of numbers reliably representing the date you achieved. I get that the first 2 digits 39 represent 39th week but how does the single digit 5 represent 1965? It could just as easily represent 1975 or 1955? The last digit 7 presumably represents the 7 day of week 39. My engineering mind is nagging me about the order of the digits used by the manufacturer, e.g. week-year-day of week and ponders why they didn’t use the digits 31065 to represent the more orderly 3 October 1965. Yes, I know, It’s using an extra digit. Just saying, I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel as it were, just confused by the dating code system. Ahhh! the joys of our hobby ...... Cheers Pete
From what I've read online (I can't vouch for its veracity) with a 4 digit code, the 3rd digit represents the year starting with 1961 and 0 representing 1970. After 1970, they went to a 5 digit code.
@Rich_S Thanks mate ..... just my brain trying to organise things, used to drive my wife nuts ... Cheers Pete
@Mackburner Humble request to Mackburner Dear Sir Can you give me some light on the above manufacturing Code
Imho this AIDA is made by Hipolito in the 1970th. The pump knob and the handwheel are the same color of Geniol lanterns from this decade. Is the Font and the hood marked with "Germany regd." or with "Made in Germany"? The Handwheel from the 1960th looks like my picture from my 1250 (my pumpknob is wrong ) edit: here a picture from my AIDA made by Hipolito in Portugal:
Ashok. Not really. These are German lamps or at least German design and marketed so it is the German collectors who understand these date codes much better than I do. They seem to be complex and I have a small doubt about their veracity but the guys in Germany seem to be convinced and I can't argue against their opinions. ::Neil::
In this case Mr. Lahde revealed the mystery about the four digits. Which was only valid for the sixties. Which off coarse dioesn't mean they could have sued it longer for a purpose we never will know. Hipolito is the most logical partner to make the AIDA. We know that there where not made AIDA's bij Graetz in Altena or Bregenz. Heinze who was at a certain point wholesaler had good friendly connections with the owners of Hipolito.
Logic: If the four digit code was used on Aidas the same way as for Petromax from Graetz in Altena, Germany in the 1960ies But If Aida were never produced in Altena, but by Hipolito from Portugal during that period, Rich_S lantern is not a Germany product, but Portuguese. Isn't it?
Made in license. Check who is owner of the brandname. Made in Germany is always a big mystery. After Altena stopped making Petromax lanterns none where made in Germany I guess.
The fount and hood are marked Germany regd. The heat shield and fuel cap is marked Made In Germany. The glass is marked Made In West Germany. Did I get a Frankenlantern?
No, wouldn't think so. Can well be that Hipolito worked closely with some German suppliers or Graetz/Heinze directly.==> made in Germany As Graetz was owner of the patent/name. ==> Germany regs.
