G'day all, Just for a bit of fun and with zero proof and because I like stirring the pot, the following is what I think Radius did and didn't manufacture themselves in relation to their Model 103 lantern. What Radius more than likely manufactured themselves, including the circled 'control body' (for the lack of a better term.) Even then, it is unlikely that Radius manufactured the pricker wheel or nozzle. The bail arm bolts may have been bought in too. I can see a single specialised factory making them by the 10's of thousands and lamp companies buying them. It is possible that lamp companies could have produced them, I think Automatic Screw Machines could produce them with no problems. It could also be possible that Raduius bought in the fuel cap and pump components and plated them themselves and then assembled them. Perhaps Radius made the pump rods that were a simple thing to produce. I should have included the base plate of the cage in this photo but I forgot. This is the stuff I don't think Radius actually manufactured. I think these parts were probably made at a 'Boss factory' (again, for the lack of a better term) that specialised in manufacturing these components not just for Radius but for other lamp companies too. Minus of course, the previously circled parts.
Interesting thoughts Matty. I doubt we will ever find an answer, but we can always speculate. You have to remember that the three big Swedish companies, Primus, Optimus and Radius had large production facilities of their own. Their main production was stoves and lamps was, by comparison, quite a small amount. I am fairly confident that Primus made everything themselves. They were a part of the huge Bahco company and had more than enough facilities to do it. Optimus was also quite big and could have looked after themselves. That leaves Radius. Here I am not so confident. Radius products were always built to a price which can especially be seen in their Petromax style lamps like the 103. The gauge of metal seems to be slightly thinner than the other Swedish manufacturers and processes have been pushed to the limits. An example is that there are often stress cracks in the collars. The brass must have been extruded to the limit and not annealed afterwards to save costs. After all that I am still not sure whether they would have outsourced or not. They had the ability to do it themselves, the question is whether it would have been cheaper to outsource or not. I have a question about your 103 that is not related to production questions. Does the hood have any markings on it at all?
Nils, It is true that it is unlikely that we will ever know if my thoughts will ever be proven one way or the other. What is true though is, there is a marked difference in quality between the manufactured parts most noticeable in the nickelling. The quality of the cage, hood and fount are all equal. It is the added parts that are of inferior quality indicating that those parts were not from the same manufacturer. There are a number of possibilities. For instance, it may be that Radius manufactured the hood, cage and fount and nickelled them then the other parts are bought in and have been nickelled at whomevers factory manufactured them. The exact opposite may have applied where Radius bought in the hood, cage and fount from one of the established manufacturers and they manufactured and nickelled the add on parts themselves. I highly doubt they were all done in the one factory. Even the largest of manufacturers found it more convenient and most likely cheaper to buy certain parts from specialist manufacturers. Often, large manufacturers would have two sources of the same part in case something happens at one of the supplying factories such as a strike or fire. That way they were always assured of being supplied and their factory didn't grind to a halt because another factory did. I have found one lamp making factory that probably manufactured nearly all parts of lamps. That factory had 17,000 workers. I mean, can you believe that! That factory manufactured parts for many of today's well known lamp companies from yesteryears. Nils, the hood isn't marked at all. The generator is marked Radius.
Its highly likely that some of the processes had been outsourced. For most of the metal shaping works, it might have been mostly but not necessarily a fully internal job. But for the plating that involved electro-chemical facilities and expertise, it might be easier to have a speciallist handling that. The same goes for the making of plastic/phenolic parts, which require a completely different line of machinery and setups from metal works. Then there could also be casted metal parts that could had been more convenient for foundries instead of the general stamping lines. I'm not too sure if a factory would include an additional foundry or metal melting line for the casting works.
Just look at car companies. Muncie transmission,Rockwell differential, Saginaw steering box. Manufacturers assemble a lot mor than they make.
