Has anyone else seen this? At least the new address isn't in a trailer park... http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=be6ff473fd446578859370800&id=c9ac071557&e=346f518ccc The cited standard is NOT directly a safety standard, but it does invoke safety standards. It is more of a human-interface standard to ensure that DoD (MoD) devices are easy and safe to operate under operational conditions.
Hello Al, I received an e-mail from Mr Cris last month, after a scathing e-mail I sent when they charged me in excess of $50.00 freight, I actually received a phone call also from Diana and she was very courteous and the refund they gave me was actually very good. I'm not one to rant so I did some looking around the after the "big change" and the website was redesigned. Everyone is welcome to investigate to their own accord so go ahead and find two or three minutes to waste. We'll be right here. I personally find their attitude towards "True" Petromax lanterns very sour indeed. This strikes me as really ignorant considering they would have nothing if not for Max and the many hours he and his compatriots put into these fine lanterns. Seals and mantles here in the US is nice but that's all I have need of them for.
I got a nice note from them today as well. Has anyone seen this new, re-engineered lantern? It appears to be a new item. Both models, the 500 and the 150 are sold out and back ordered, and the price has increased by at least 25%, if not more. Are they under new management? Paul
I have no plans to buy a lantern from them since I already have enough 500cp lanterns. What I found interesting is their almost conciliatory tone that seemed to be an acknowledgement of their tainted reputation. Like you, I'm only interested in replacement parts for my Petromax-type lanterns.
I don't have a Petromax, and have never used one, but Mackburner gave me a demonstration of one once. Quite impressive. I watched the videos, and was surprised at the slagging off he gave the originals: "Designed to fail" and: "all that soldering". Surely couldn't have been that bad? The videos were rather amateurish in presentation too, with background noise and much repetition of speech and action - made me wonder if this guy wasn't a self set up middle-man aiming for a distributorship. They do appear to be well made, but hands-on and performance tests would need to determine that. Also curious about the claims for "many filed patents". That new eh?
I think that they have a patent on the o-ring replacement pump plunger (instead of leather), and possible on the substitute heater head. What bothers me the most has been their past assertions of safety (with gasoline/petrol) and their association with a safety engineer. The acceptance from DoD (MoD) for compliance to the usability standard simple means that it can be operated by a stressed high school graduate without significant risk.
You can download it from here http://www.everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-1400-1499/MIL-STD-1472F_208/ It's an attempt at an all encompassing standadisation of design criteria - good luck with that! I think some of the exceptions/exemptions attest to the fact that that was never going to happen. Most Mil standards I've worked to and on in the past related to traceability of materials and testing and were perhaps a little more realistic.
I really hope the claim of thicker brass is simply a step in the right direction towards putting the design back to where it was before the "cheap clone" syndrome overtook them. But I'm not going to hold my breath. The screws that hold the burner to the cage are a novel idea, unnecessary but novel.
From what I can see they are still using a spring loaded pump check valve located low in the tank and therefore in the fuel. A failure here and you get a tank full of fuel blown out of the tank and if that is gasoline then you have a hot problem which will put people in hospital. This is the main design feature of a Petromax that makes then umsafe with any fuel lighter than kero. I don't think much of their safety engineer if he missed this possibility. ::Neil::
Their so-called "Safety Engineer" has no credentials to speak of that are industry accepted. I used to do documentation for an electronic test equipment company, and I'm pretty well versed on credentialing agencies and verifiable objective evidence of compliance. They are running on the quality of the original Petromax design, and luck. The marketing hype and FUD tactic disgusts me.
Yes, the spring loaded pump check valve is an issue if you use gasoline. This is not unique to the Petromax type though. Tilley, Vapalux, Bialaddin to name a few use the same system. It's safe as long as you use kero vice gasoline. No positive shutoff valve either. Would have thought after all the h... over that issue they would have fixed that problem - guess not... I like the Petromax and all the rest I named. I've never had a problem with any of them. You just have to use commen sense.
Kind of a shame that Coleman didn't go after the DoD contract using some of their technology to resolve the safety issues. I'm pretty sure the patents are dead by now, but they know how to build a safe gasoline fuel system, and they also know how to build a kerosene lantern too. Probably an indefinite quantity/indefinite period contract where BL is leverage image to build domestic sales.
You are correct George, the same type of spring and pip system is used Tilley and Vapalux lamps, the difference is that even in the earliest advertisements and packaging both Tilley and Vapalux were adamant about how their product used Paraffin instead gasoline. I believe the reason they leave gasoline on the list of fuels is that in their collective minds they do not want to alienate prospective US buyers who are already used to burning gasoline as a fuel in lanterns. BriteLyt's safety page is a prime example of how to convince the public that you are looking out for their best interest, all the while ignoring the facts. The first item on the list is an additional heat plate, sorry but even I know that idea has been around since at least the 1960's. The next three items deal with how safe the pump is now, for your hands and wrists. Sorry chaps but this bunch of bunk is listed because they are afraid of being sued by a lantern owner with carpal tunnel instead of serious burns from a gasoline purging NRV. The last items points out how eco-friendly the bio-fuel option is. However if you read the instructions on the lantern you'll see that they say it can run bio-fuel but that it requires additional cleaning later. Nowhere in these notes does it state any safety feature pertaining to gasoline or other lightweight fuels.
That is New Britelyt 500CP, I have one and good looks for me !! And the customer service of Britelyt team is satisfied of me. http://instagram.com/p/hJSHAxlMyB/ Tomy
This is the first time I have realised they don't call them Petromax anymore. They have changed the design of the metalwork as well so they aren't identical. Probably still come from the same factory.
1) What does "new mangement" mean ? I know for sure that Diana isn't new to the team. 2) The brand petromax is not free to use. I know several german (re)selelrs had problems with it. You only can use it when you sell the "right" stuff. And with "right" I mean the new line of the owners of the brand name.
Should not be a problem, if you buy the rights of a brand, the "trademark" for a specific product, you can sell them, I don't think there should be a problem to sell a Petromax type lantern labeled as Hovik verk, Optimus, Radius, Mewa, Hipolito or similar in the US, they only have registered the Petromax brand and made a shame of the product selling substandard products with very misleading and borderline dangerous "propaganda" about the capabilities of the product, as well as never having anything in stock and conning the prospective customers into "is on back order" and have them wait a year or more for a paid up front lantern..for their price point, it is better to buy a real old one and fix it, than buying their chinese imitations.
I don't know guys, I have dealt with this company, both old and new management and they were excellent to deal with. cheers.
I bought their heat plate. For an 829. It did not fit. That is when I found out that they changed the angle of the rapid nozzle. I complained and they said to file and bend it.
