My very first Euro lantern is a barn fresh Optimus 200 found "in the wild" on Vancouver Island BC Canada. I am going to have to replace the bail and need to know how to completely remove the existing bail knobs. I have unscrewed them out until they stop allowing the vent to be removed, but then I'm reluctant to apply a "bigger hammer" approach to them for fear of buggering them up. How does one completely remove the bail knobs on an Optimus 200 lantern? Stan
Optimus lanterns (and most Px style lanterns as well) have the end of the threaded stud centre punched to stop the nut from coming off and getting lost. They are made of brass so it is possible to use the "big hammer" approach and screw them off. Use a pair of pliers with some leather or thin aluminium around the nut to protect it.
Just as Nils says. You can force the nut out. It is also recommended that you support the cube shaped part where the threaded stud attach to the globe cage. It's good to use e.g. a small monkey wrench: This is what the stud look like, and you can see that it's still a bit expanded even after the nut has been forced over it. The end of the stud is shaped like a sleeve, so to speak, so it's not a solid piece of brass you need to force. Just this widened cylinder. Strangely enough, I have atleast one brass 1200 where the stud never was hammered out. The top end is a thin and nice sleeve, and both nuts come off easy.
Thanks for the help and the tips. The bail is so badly rusted on just one side that it is almost rusted through in a couple of places. I intend to make another one out of the same sized rod, only this time it'll be stainless steel. The bends don't look to be difficult to replicate. Stan
