Old Austramax questions

Hi, I picked up this Austramax 2/300 on evilbay recently. It is my first Austramax and I'm very happy with the condition despite it missing the bail. Half the reason I got it was that I have an Austramax globe I found at a flea market on a Coleman 242B and it needed a better home (ok..I didn't really need a reason. Its a kero lantern). The globe only has lettering on one side "AUSTRAMAX agee pyrex". How close a match date-wise would it be to the rest of the lantern?
And second question. I have read about dating by a 1952 change of burner cap. Does anybody know when they were being used by the army? As this one is stamped with the D^D (Government issue. Department of Defence??). I thought maybe I could narrow the date range a bit more.
Heck..since I'm here, one last question. This doesn't seem plated. Is it just steel? If so...should i polish or just leave it?

 

Its plated just needs a good clean and polish.
Needs a bail handle as well .
When they do run the fount does get a bit hot so don't worry.These little lanterns give out plenty of light to .
Bob .

 

Thanks Bob. I'll have a crack at polishing it then. I'm going to check my odds and ends of lantern spares and see if I have any random handles that fit, just so I can use it. One day I might try and bend up my own handle if I can get some rough dimensions of original to copy.

 

If you get some 3.5 or 4mm stainless rod you should be able to make your own bail. I can trace out the dimensions on butchers' paper and post to you if you like. I have a 3/300 (see the Reference Gallery) that has the same handle as the earlier 2/200 (I think).

PT me if you want the trace with measurements.

 

Once cleaned up should look like these.
Have fun polishing these were done by hand .

 

Beautiful.
..and jealous

 

oops. I meant to say in the first post that it was missing the globe as well as the bail. The globe in pic is the one I found on a 242B and was asking about being a match date-wise. I guess it was clear enough anyway.

 

I'm not sure if anyone has looked into dating the different glass markings, but the red marked globes that I have are on slightly later 3/300 lanterns. Glass can always be broken and changed so there is no guarantee that the glass that is on a lamp is correct.

This is the first time I have heard of the D (arrow) D mark on a 2/300. Interesting that it is stamped vertically.

 

Thanks Nils,
Understanding dating issues, do you have any idea of date range for army using these? Since you say you havent seen a D^D 2/300, do you have any ideas of more recent use. I emailed my old man who was in the RAAF in the 60's and early 70's, but still waiting for an answer. I though it was interesting to read a newspaper article from about 10 years ago saying that the Australian army requested 300 3/300 when they went to Timor Leste, but unfortunately Austramax couldn't fill the order quick enough, so they missed out.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/05/12/1021002413828.html

 

Are they still in business, and if so, what is the price of a new one? Thanks.

Paul

 

They are still in business but do not sell retail direct. One the bay of evil right now, you can get the best price I have seen which is $129.95 AUD with free post in Australia.

 

Saw some available from Aus on internet auction Pressure lanterns N.O.S 2 sellers 7 + 10 available.
And- Associated Kerosene & Oil Lamps See links at top of CPL page

 

Just checked types of glasses
Bulge type
Type one
AustramaX in small white print
with pyrex underneath.
A/X is 1/4inch the rest 1/8
Made by PYREX
Type two
Captial A then small letters
in grey
A is 1/2 inch the rest 5/16
Made by Schott west germany
Type 3
Captial A and X in between smaller
in red
A/X is 3/8inch the rest 3/16
Made by AGEE PYREX
Type 4 is a black writing one same
as the red one .
Also some come with Green writing COLEX globes
I also have had 2 come with Mica globes
Bob .

 

Thanks Bob, good info there.
A new problem now. I started polishing today with a general metal polish from Auto store. Hand polishing only with chux cloth! yet after just 10 minutes a patch of brass seems to appear. see pic, left side half way up. Was my polishing liquid too strong or plating really thin? I don't want the brass look. How do you go about polishing and what brand of polisher/cleaner did you use?

Or maybe I need to ease up on my weetbix
I suppose it may have already been there, but as the lantern was so tarnished etc I missed it. I am more than a little bit color blind.
Ps looking back at my post, I thought it stupid I didn't do magnet test before I asked that last minute q about steel. I grabbed a magnet today and checked the base as well. Are the 2/300 founts all brass with nickel plate? Or another plating metal/alloy?

 

founts are brass 2/300 with brass base
even 3/300 brass base later ones have a metal base then and latest ones stainless base .
My way of cleaning is for all lanterns brass or plated etc a hot citric bath .Use a stainless pot of the wifes etc fill with hot water enough to cover the fount add citric powder from the super market .tablespoon full .
After about 5 minutes submerged you can fill inside fount as well clean that 2all in one go .
If inside fount is full of acid etc tip that out back into pot next .
Into sink full of hot water and dish washing liquid
and use a presoaped steel wool pads and clean not hard .Dry off and then use mothers mag cleaner
just use a cloth apply and then polish off that's it .
Some founts will show some brass if the coating is very thin etc luck of the draw.
PS never put your vents into a citric bath
reason the vent loses colour stuffs it
Bob .

 

Thanks Bob. I had soaked for 20 minutes in vinegar water mix then rinsed and straight to mag cleaner. Citric acid vs acetic acid. Can't imagine a huge difference.
I'll try your method on a few founts.
The only solution I have put ventilators in before is a molasses mix to get rid of rust. But that has only been on vents pretty far gone.
Thanks for the advice.

 

If it was a DoD lamp, could it have been painted?

 

That's a fine display! I do not recall seeing any Austromax lanterns listed on Ebay UK., were they exported? Jeff.

 

I'm not sure Tony. There is no trace of paint that I could see and the DoD 3/300s I have seen were shiny stainless(?). I imagine they would only have been used on base, so no need for camo. I have got friends asking some older veterans they know for more info.

 

Hi,

Plenty of good information there, that's what I like about Lantern Forum's.

My 2 Bob's worth, I have 4 Military Austramax's, they range from pre 52 {2 x 2/300 ], a Change Over [ 2/300 Collar, 3/300 Fount ], 3/300. The 3 /300 doesn't have the D/D but it is a pre made box by Army marked 11 MC GP. Does that count?

The red Globes I would hazard a Guess at 60's but I put them on 2/300's as they look cool. Nobody really knows.

You will find the Bail handle of 242B's, 249 's are that close to the early Austramax's that it doesn't mater. [ Another Coleman Link ]



I have never seen an " Army Green " Austramax, pretty sure they never existed. Early Austramax's are a bitch to clean up, they are generally pretty oxidised by the time we get our hands on them. The best you can hope for is a dull gloss.

Another dating time line is the stainless steel base. I think that came in in the 70's era. I did have a bit of paper clarifying the date but a mouse made a house out of it.

The S/Steel is pretty low grade.

Colin

 

I agree Colin. People on this forum have a wealth of information and thanks for adding your .02.
My old man said that while serving with the RAAF through most of 60s and some of the 70s he can't recall once seeing a pressure lantern. However he said there would have been no need to paint them. Its not like anyone's going on patrol holding up a bright light. He reckons if they had any in his time they would have been backups for when the batteries and gennies went out. Especially in medical wards etc on base where they need good lighting.
Do any of your military 3/300s date post '70 by the stainless base?

 

Ha! I just fired up a brand new Austramax. I've got an old one that I haven't fettled yet, but I bought one that was on the bay of evil.

Boy! Does it go well! I'll post when I find my camera...

 

Hi,

The only 3/300 is the one pictured with Army Box. It is the current generation with plastic parts. Most probably 80's-90's

I totally agree with your Fathers observations, purely back up and for use in civil circumstances. ie Timor.

Time Frame ... who knows, 1949 - ???. I can remember going down to the Disposals in the early 90's and they were there. I would hazard a guess the Army stopped stamping them and they were just distributed.

Colin

 

Disappointed.
After cleaning my 2/300, checking the generator condition, pricker cycling etc I tried to light up this evening. Fail. Lost pressure rapidly and kero flooded back into the pump tube. I had pulled the NRV yesterday and it seemed to be fine (spring moving), but obviously its not fine. Can the NRV be pulled apart and fettled? If so how?
If not? Associated Oil and Kerosene lamps website list a replacement valve for a 3/300, would that fit?

PS Yesterday before I filled it with kero, I gave it a few pumps and then loosened the filler cap and air came out under pressure, but I didn't bother checking to see if it held (stupid). I guess the pickup could also be blocked >>>> but one thing at a time I think.
I'm a bit scared of attempting to pluck the block at the moment. I'm sure I'll need advice on that one.


? Should this have been posted in the fettling section? Just left it here for continuity.

 

I will ring Austramax and ask... You might need to wait a couple of days before I get an answer...

Cheers

Tony

 

Hiya all,

I've just finished the photo's off on mine, after a new parts order arrived (Cheers TonyP, good stuff !) I'd not known about the roundabouts age of the lamp, so from the dating advice, can I take it that the one I'm picturing will be from the 70's (Steel base fitted, It can't be stainless, it was a shed when I got it and there was 3 mm of rust shell, clinging on for dear life !?)

Very nice these lanterns, runs very hot though, which has me worrying the main burner may split a fracture. I've already spotted a bit of a devious looking crack, 5 mm long. There seems to be a lot of carbon scarring (dark, similar to a birthmark), direct to the side of it, without any brass/bronze, between the stepping stone (a clean soot trail, straight from the small crack) ?











Cheers,

Regards, Jon.

 

Knowing when they introduced the stainless steel base would be good. Yours is the last variation before this was introduced. My guess would be some time in the 70s, but it could be later.

 

To the original poster. This pic is dated 1944 and I believe the lantern may be a Austramax. Noemfoor was a RAAF base up in the islands where No. 30 Beaufighter squadron was based. The lantern is in bright finish , not painted with khaki green.

 

Austramax lanterns were being made in 1944, so It's a possibility. It's a pity the photo isn't any better and his hand is in the way.

 

We haven't heard from Jon Fairbank for a while - I hope he's OK.

Great photo though...