Reinhard, here in Canada two years ago I bought same Petromax Sicke 826 made in 1954. It is in perfect shape, original globe and reflector. I do not see Petromax over here very often. Enjoy.
I have a 'sicke' unit too. I like them as the design makes positioning the lantern frames much easier during re-assembly. I do have a feeling(can't really tell what) that the Petromax from the 1950s were even more well-made than those from the 60s onwards. I've no issues with the design thus far. Be it heat dissipation or physical stability. I wonder what's the real reason Graetz stopped further production and replaced them with the horizontally-ribbed collars.
Thank you all, The design was futuristic at the time. Even cars, mopeds, caravans and furniture had that fashion touch back then. I have already seen 2 Sicken in which the 4 feets of the support frame was pressed into the tank. Maybe that's why they did not build them anymore. Regards Reinhard
My 1936 Petromax 828 has that "dished" area where the collar fits (I think that's what you mean -sicke) and it's a shame they didn't continue with this design.
The why and reason of the design, ribs and slots, and the ideas can be found in the report of Hermann Lahde in his book. Light and Heat From Hydrocarbon Appliances by Hermann Uddo Lahde Portrait of an Industry Also you can read it in the patents that where granted. It has all to do with heat and getting and more over keeping it where you want it. Futuristic design has nothing to do with it.
@george The tanks from the 30s also had a bead(Sicke), but an all-round. But I mean the Petromax of 1954-1956. These had 4 small beads(Sicken) on the tanks top. In Germany, the collectors lovingly call these lamps Sicke. @WimVe Of course, every Petromaxer knows that the long slots should provide good ventilation. Nevertheless, the Sicke hat a futuristic look iin their day. The ventilation slots have been adapted to the then modern look. They wanted to offer the clientele something new and beautiful. One would have at Petromax be for no ventilation problems. Regards Reinhard
@Reinhard, isn't that pure speculation: how would we know what they thought then ? It was nothing more or less then a tool, a thing that provided light. Nothing to do with beautifull or style.
I have an Aida 1250 with the sicke design. This design lasted a couple years and then changed/disappeared.
@george Yes, I have already seen several Sicken of AIDA. They are made at the same time and in the same place as the Sicken of Petromax. From 1954 to 1956 in Altena. West-Germany) Regards Reinhard
@WimVe The look was of course very important. The product should not only be good, it should also please potential buyers. They wanted to attract many customers and often sell the product. The company Petromax wanted to live on. I think you underestimated this aspect. Regards Reinhard
Wim, I would love to post pictures but I have one hellva time with loading pictures. At one time I could but I got a new computer and all that changed.
No I talked to the last petromax test engineer from the Altena factory. As others did. he was there when it all ended, dumped into the skips. But that was long ago. The petromax is a good design, well thought out from the beginning, nothing more or less. The pressure lantern is designed as a tool that provided light so you could work in the dark. If they would go for nice and lovely they would have made more interior designs. But they already had the non pressure lighting range for that. Graetz after the war was an electrical company which made radios etc. The Petromax line was I guess an incident due to the cold war: the military needed a non EMI effected light source. generators where already invented so why bother with kerosene ? And the NATO needed many of a proven good design > Petromax. If you need proof. Find the "Graetz Nachrichten" of this era and read them. You will see that the lanterns are in the margin of what the factory made.
@WimVe The Sicke was not a military lamp of the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr (West German Army) was founded in November 1955.And of course you also wanted outdoor lamps in a appealing contemporary design. Regards Reinhard
I think that "Graetz" Petromax have done their utmost to produce pressure lamps and lanterns with high standard for technical and visual quality. The nickel plating of Petromax lamps and lanterns was perfect all the time. At the time they had a corporate culture based on quality and efficiency. The other major manufacturers in the world at the time where in the same state of mind. Today is not the concern of majority of fabrications in Asia. Quick and cheap can not provide quality. Apart from Asian enthusiast collectors who have online shops and provide original spare parts or reproductions as a whole of high quality. Regards, Titoo.
