Hello, Light or not light? The question is becoming a real issue for me right now. All the lamps that I have renovated so far were already in use. Since some have stayed with me, I have more functional lamps than I need. There is therefore no need to "light up" another lamp "only for testing". Now this morning my newest catch from the little bay has arrived. Unfortunately, the lamp confronts me with an important question: Renovate and function test, or just clean, technically complete and put away again without ignition? The question arises from the facts about the lamp, which I wasn't even aware of when I bought it. It is a Petromax: Type 827 from 1965, Chrome model, with original enamel shade, only used for decoration, never ignited, BGS engraving in the hood. Cleaning and revising is clear, but light it up? What would you do with it? Would you like to be the first to light a freshly made lamp on a Saturday evening, or clean the lamp and place it next to the other lamps?
Since you've already got so many functional Petromaxes, I'd say you just clean this one and preserve it as NOS. Nice to see the toggle-lever 1950s preheater design still available on a 1965 Petromax.
Agree with Tony, give it a good clean and polish. Then keep it for a nice display! This is a really nice example.
60 year old used lanterns are plentiful, NOS are rare, the next day even more so. I have been in your situation many a time and the answer for me has always been obvious. If you have too many used Petromax, I can always take a few off your hands. Gruße.
Moin, Your good advice, especially those with the noble drink, made me decide to let the lamp shine! The optical condition and the fact that I bought it in order to have a working Petromax 827 250 myself are legitimation enough to enjoy the small lamp. And I can say it is doing great! Follow pictures... Thank you for your ideas on the project!
...and there was me thinking Myn/Moin advised you NOT to light the lantern. Let me see:- Yes, I was correct, he did. For information, NOS means 'New, Old Stock' and if you light the lantern (sounds like you already have) it will cease to be that. So four people (five, including me) advise you not to light the lantern and one person advises you to light it, yet you ignore the majority. Then you tell us you bought the lantern "in order to have a working Petromax 827 250" Sorry to be blunt, but what was the point of seeking our advice?
Moin, @David Shouksmith I was just undecided for a moment when I was busy with refurbishing the lamp. I did not want to act blindly without listening to the opinions of valued lamp experts. and the sentence "A lantern which doesn't give light, Is no lantern but just metal" was decisive enough. I also asked the same question in another forum. I read all the opinions and answers and took them into account, which is why I wanted to represent the decision here. NOS is well known to me, but I also have to weigh up whether it makes sense to leave something unused just to be able to say "nobody has used it yet" The optics show signs of age and the lamp has never been used appropriately. If an original box were included and the lamp really "new and unused" I would not have ignited it either, but after more than 50 years as a lifeless decorative piece I can clearly represent the use, even if that is not understandable for everyone.
I appreciate where you are coming from.. I see what you are saying, but sorry.. I don't agree.. You could say that about any number of things that aren't doing what they were originally intended for? It is still a lantern.. it can be lighted or unlit..?
It is your lantern anyway. So the final choice is still yours. A NOS will only be NOS once. Just like a virgin. Or perhaps keep it clean, ready and tempting. Let it be undecided.
Many NOS lanterns were lit at the factory. I suspect if you put an old hood on this lamp, light it, take a photo, and run it for an hour or so, the difference between NOS price and used once price will be about 10 cents.
