I recently came in to the possession of 900 Little Baby, and I am new to pressure lamps. First thing I want to know is whether the lamp is genuine in all respects. I also want to get the lamp into working condition. The piston doesnt grip when being pumped, guess the washer is worn out. I would like to know how to check and replace the parts. Requesting all experts to guide me please. Thank you in advance.
Hi Arun. The pump has a leather washer on it. This should be oiled so it seals. If after soaking in oil it does not it will need replacing. It look quite authentic but others will confirm. I think that the fuel cap/pressure guage is newer than the lantern. The name badge is interesting. I think the mantle is far too big. You can compare it to others of the same model by searching for "little baby" on this site. this is an example:Petromax 900 “Little Baby” Be careful as most of the parts are not replaceable..
Arun, nice find. It is a 100 CP rated lantern. Yours looks a match for 1950 - 1952 Petromax 900 "Little Baby" I don't think the pressure gauge is original to these lanterns Replacement parts are virtually non existent. Be very careful with the glass
Hello @Arun Kumar Since the pressure gauge is marked "Petromax D.R.P" it is definitely original, but not often found at these little lanterns. Since the mantle is unburnt it will shrink to the right size. I assume that it had been hanging in the lantern for a long time, so the fabric has stretched, but it is not too big. The badge "Racek & Co." tells us that it was sold by a large retailer for German lamps & lanterns, who made his business in Asia, in particular India, but maybe also in the middle east. Contemporary parts of a 150 CP Petromax lantern will mostly fit, such as washers/seals, glass cylinders etc., except from the upper vaporizer and jet. The latter has a different thread than the contemporary M7x1. However, reproduction needles and glass cylinders are available. Overall a very rare lantern in a superb condition. Please take good care of the glass cylinder, since it is original as well. I'd propose to replace it when using the lantern. Congratulations and good luck with the fettling! Maybe you can date the lantern according to some faint scratchings on the tank bottom, since the lantern seems to be little used.
Hi Arun, yes, it is a genuine Petromax 900. I think all the parts that can be seen in the pictures are certainly genuine Petromax parts. Most of those parts should be origìnal to the lantern, except probably the filler cap with gauge. The original filler caps for the Petromax 900 usually do not feature the gauge, but you'd never know about some variations that might just exist out there. In my opinion, it is more likely a replacement for a lost filler cap. F. Racek & Co. is an important wholesaler/trader/importer/ distributer for a lot of European brands of lamps, stoves and lanterns, in particular, in India, especially during the 1930s. They started earlier, in the mid 1920s. As for as I know, all the items traded during that period were genuinely manufactured in Europe, irrespective of whether they were tagged or stamped with Racek's own name or not. It was mostly only during and after WWII, when imports from Europe were difficult or totally unavailable that they started extensively manufacturing most of the needed goods locally in India.
Thank you Fireexit 1, I will try to tackle the washer issue as suggested by you. I will also study the link you shared in detail.
Huge thanks Martin K. I will try to get the parts of a 150 CP Petromax lantern as well as the reproduction needles. When you say, "I'd propose to replace it when using the lantern.", you mean when I manage to get it into working condition, I should use another glass when its going to be lit up? In case it cracks due to heat etc?
Grateful for your insights and the interesting snippets of history, MYN. Appreciate your sharing the information.
And my overall gratitude to the admin and the people who make this forum possible. It helps countless enthusiasts like me understand and appreciate the lamps that we manage to acquire. More power to you! Or should I say more pressure
Yes, exactly. It is a very rare glass, and it would be a pity when it gets damaged. I'd only put it into the lantern for display. As I wrote before the gauge is marked "D.R.P." which means "Deutsches Reichs-Patent". Therefore it is certainly a contemporary item to the lantern from the 1930s. Some of the retailers used to embellish their products with some "bells & whistles", and the pressure gauge was definitely more common to the lanterns with the Rapid torch preheater. But even if the filler cap had been replaced by a previous owner the gauge is still an old original.
Yes, Martin, those 'D.R.P.' gauges are indeed original Petromax parts, and are pretty old too. Around the same age as the lantern. I've got a non-filler cap type, dedicated, gauge with that D.R.P. marking on my 1930 PX 826. There seem to be a lot more variations on the earlier (pre-WWII) Petromaxes as compared to post war too. As understood, it could either be odd specimen if it is really original to this particular lantern, or, more likely, a replacement by a previous owner.
