Wish I had Brian’s formula!

I brought these home a few days ago, along with an Aladdin shade which I should have photographed before cleaning. Plenty dust, rust, straw and bird poop after 50+ years in the barn. Using Brian’s technique I should have them cleaned up and running in a few hours.

 

A very nice haul Jean, a conversion lamp too! I expect to see them all up and running by the weekend. I think John’s going to be busy...

 

Jean, is the GF cock on the PL ... odd ??

 

Well spotted @Anthony! What is that?

 

What?

 

A good haul Jean!

That GF., control cock looks normal to me.

 

Is that an Aladdin Petromax too there Jean?

 

Yes, me too Jeff. It’s an early PL53 with straight handle and a riser between tank and cock. Got 2 others the same.

 

That is a fine old PL-53, the handles vary though, some have a loose brass coil over the straight brass bar at the top and on others the top of the actual handle is coiled.

Tilley PL53

1930s (early) Tilley PL53

1937-1940 PL53 With Reflector

 

Well your off to a great Start Jean, now the real work starts off to the shed you go about 16 hours of polishing and your on the way to a good start hahaha. Congratulations looks like you did very well with your finds.

 

That looks like a really interesting group, congratulations!

 

Lot's of stuff there that we don't see on this side of the pond to often. Nice haul!

Alex

 

That’s a really interesting group. Enjoy!

 

I was wondering about that too.
Looks like it.

 

Found a wee plaque under the dirt says 827E.

 

But no Aladdin plaque?
I do assume that all Aladdin marketed lamps had the Aladdin plaque on the lantern.

 

I am starting to think that pre WW2 Petromax were marketed in the UK by importer/retailers other than Aladdin. I have most of a pre 1940 Petromax Rapid 828 which also just has 828E on the collar label. ::Neil::

 

Haven’t got under all the dirt yet and not sure I even want to!

 

But Aladdin had them just for the war in their catalogue. So I assume those where labeled extra with Aladdin.
At least I have one marked like that.

 

I don't have any adverts or catalogues with Aladdin-Petromax lamps dated during WW2. From the paper I have they were sold here 1937 to 1939. I am reasonably sure they were not importing lamps from Germany after 1939. It is possible they still had stocks from before 1940 of course but the latest Aladdin catalogue I have showing Aladdin-Petromax lamps is dated July 1939 with models 900, 821, 826, 827 and 828.

As far as I know the Petromax lamps sold by Aladdin were all labelled with both brands so Aladdin-Petromax and the model number is on the collar labels but the tanks have just the German Petromax stamping. These lamps don't have the E suffix in the model numbers. So look like these two 827 and 828.


So two pre 1940 Petromax lanterns, 827E and this 828E both found in the UK and not labelled as Aladdin suggests that Aladdin were not the only UK retailer of Petromax pre WW2. ::Neil::