Postie just b rought me an Ditmar Maxim 513, like this one here, but slightly more worn out... By seller it looked like this: , but after first encounter with rotary wire brush it looks like that: and in company of other lamps: I wonder, how was plated the fount? I was thinking that it was matt nickel, like in Bundeswehr Petromax, but the brass brush made a scratch on it, so it's something softer, maybe it's zinc, but different, as on other parts. I also wonder, where was the vessel for the meths -- on the base plate is a hinged window for match, but no meths preheater...
Hello Mark, great find! This should be in the lamp reference gallery though, perhaps you can add before and after photos there, once you have finished restoring that lantern. Perhaps a separate meths torch was used to pre heat the lantern, check out the photos of the other Ditmar lanterns though. Jeff.
After more careful look, it seems that it is meant for benzin (petrol). And the army-look (matt fount, grey cap [Kriegsmarine? Luftwaffe?]) together with benzin goes hand-in-hand... Petrol explains straight vapouriser without the 'loop' for extra heating, only a strip of brass, soldered to the vaporiseur -- a kind of 'fins', those increase surface... Damn right! A little Coleman'ish, in fact. And A WAY more exciting. Especially when firing-up...
Nice find Mark2. I do like those WW-lamps while there is almost always some larger changes on them to fullfill some demands from the state and political situation at that time. Your lamp dont even look worn out as they usually are from that period. Claus C
Thanx, Claus, I got it on the equivalent of the Fleabay. On the seller's pics it looked scary, but I took a risk. The lamp must have in its life a head-fall (from the table/shelf), because supports of the cap were bent -- the enamel cracked-off on two of them. No soot inside, only dust -- it must be in some attic... BTW, did your Bruder Mannesmann arrived?
Hi Mark2 Well this lamp looks like there is no missing parts but the glass, so a little fettling and it would do good in any collectors room. I really like those Ditmar-lamps - they seem solid in all and have small gadgets and nice constructions. Yes I got my Mannesmann and she remain un-used. The quality is very poor. Evrything is crooked and bend. The coils are rough and made with wornout plant-tools and the lamp-parts are forced together with bending and pressing It is shiny though so not to spoil that I leave it inside my house This is not a complain while I sort of exspected that to that prize and knowing it was from China - but one never knows, I could have been surprised So now I am the owner of a un-used Mannesmann Claus C
Put the M5 & M4 nuts in the tank, a glass of kerosene and applied a good shake. I was expecting manure, but it was almost clean, with fine powder on the bottom of the vessel. The rubber seal under fuel cap appears to be hardened and leaking. I will try silicone washer... Claus -- my Mannesmann is not so bad, al least -- not bent. Probably you have a bad luck, or the Chinese worker had a hangover (if you ordered it right after Chinese New year, it's clear, why... )
Petromax/Santrax CP500 glass is a bit short -- 8 to 10mm. Where to get a proper one (or to leave it, as is?) I had a look on some jars -- I may cut the cylinder of proper height and diameter, but it's a cheap natrium glass, which may melt/explode...
Mark, Nice find. Nice lamps too. Solid as long as they are stored dry and empty. Globe: Best is a mica cylinder from Fred Kuntz. You can ask the guys from www.Hytta.de too. They have more in store then they show on the website.
This one's for sure a petrol/gasoline version, due to the vaporizer. Therefore it misses the meths cup and may also employ the "special version" of pricker driver with a positive shutoff valve. If you have still any questions on this lantern please ask or PT me. BR, Martin
