I have a Britelyt version and I burn Kerosene and also the newer low sulpher diesel works great, its actually a touch brighter than kerosene and no smell at all. I add a cap of Sea foam and a cap of Heet diesel additive to every tank. I also have the shrader valve and a small bicycle pump and thats much easier to pump up. Great video !
Thanks man for sharing and if I may add you can use also kerosene lantern (with single wick ) as backup source , its less lm but easy , cheap , fast to use (no pre-heat needed ) and more economical on the fuel . Keep up the good work .
I have one of these... The start-up procedure is quite involved... So I bought a Coleman Kerosene lantern and it's much easier... And I agree... Kerosene is so much safer to use and store....
Man, that hissing sound like my dads old coleman mantle running when we went camping, brings back lot of fond memories hearing our super bright coleman sound like a little jet engine. Lol
Most likely it is a Kerosene lantern based on the German Petromax designs. These were usually designed for Kerosene hence the extensive pre heating. Burning Petrol, white gas, Coleman Fuel, Aspen 4T in such lanterns might be workig but can also cause explosions or huge fire balls. The German Bundeswehr and other European armies had explicit warnings on their lanterns that burning Benzine wasn't allowed. Coleman lanterns on the other hand were almost always designed to run on Coleman Fuel white gas and unleaded automotive petrol (hence the term Dual Fuel). The Coleman lanterns and stoves have far more safety features build in to overcome the risks involved in burning white gas. One of them is the Non Return Valve under the pump that can be locked to avoid fuel leaking in cas of a failure of the NRV itself. However Coleman made a few lanterns that worked on Kerosene.
Looks like a lot of work, just to pump pressure in it, so you get some light out of it. I have an Aladdin kerosene lamp which gives you about equal to 40 to 50 watts light output. There is no pumping required, but it needs a warmup( low fire) of 5-10 minutes before full brightness of the light output should be allowed . One full tank will give you about 16 hours run time with the Aladdin. Of course, your light is more like a hurricane light and is more weather proof.
@@bigpardner Aladdin are not meant to be moved around, they are like an eclectic lamp in your house they just stay in one place. Also instead of Aladdin you can find a Rayo lamp, they use a lot of Kerosene but they don't use a Mantel at all and produce a lot of light.
I also have the Aladdin table lamp, great for power failures but I do need to get the optional harp and white glass shade to add to it since the light is a bit too intense. Yes the mantles are quite fragile and have increased in price since 2018. Also have a pair of Coleman lanterns as well but living in Southern Europe I have turned to using benzene in these lamps since Coleman fuel is not available here. The forth and final lantern is an old Petromax I have found in an antique store. Needs all new seals and glass plus a few odds and ends. Almost forgot, I also have one of the old style Greek fisherman’s lamp that runs on the large 10 Kgm butane tanks. In general if you can find mantles from the Philippines of the right size they will burn with a brighter white light since they contain Thorium. Modern Coleman mantles use something else to get them to glow but it’s more towards a warmer light.
The first time I fired up my new Petromax I had problems! They are fiddley and if you don't like messing with old Morris Minors and Swiss watches at the same time then the Petromax is not for you! I suggest the non DIY people buy a gas or Electric Lantern. There are advantages to owning a petromax but you will need patients it is not as simple as filling it with paraffin and away she goes!
Thanks for the video. Although it seems a lot of moving parts just to get lighting. Perhaps a cold draft lantern is a more reliable choice (also quieter).
Gather high intensity LED lites which use minimal power from batteries charged with solar panels, and put a reflecting mirror behind it and direct the beam it throws toward a larger wall mirror, you can light up an entire room. I know because I did it for 7 days in Kentucky because of a winter storm knocking out power. My home as the only one lit up like normal and all my neighbors thought I had power. It cost me literally nothing.
coleman made the original pressure kerosene ....i still have mine was bought by my parents in the late 60s & i still have it ...it works ....at 50 years.... but i wonder if i can get any mantles for it ...& yes it less complicated then this one y9u are reviewing
Petromax created their kerosene pressure lamp in 1910. Coleman introduced their pressure lamps in 1914. I’m sure those dates are close enough to be up for debate on who took ideas from who, etc.
If you have to ask this question, you have not asked enough “what if” questions first. Start asking “what if” and you’ll eventually see the value of this lantern.
@Peggy p Propane is probably more practical if you keep several bottles on hand. 1 bottle will run a coleman propane lantern for up to 13hrs on low. No preheat, smells or pressurizing or stale fuel, just turn on the gas and light.
Another helpful video. Two question please, if you fill the tank to the level you showed us how long will it burn? How much kero does it take to fill the tank? Thank you.
I have got two of these, they are great. They have got me out of trouble more then once. Not only do they light up a room they also warm it up as well. Just to keep up I have also got a large primus that I have used to cook on and make tea/coffee with. In the shed I keep a 20ltr Jerry can of parafin in the shade ready on standby. I am not a prepper as such but I like to exercise some common sense. I am 60yrs old and don't like being cold. Thanks for the posting....
It is very important to get the gasification tubes hot enough and maintain pressure in the startup or you can have a scary situation with unturned fuel flooding and igniting inside the glass. I suggest first try be done outdoors in a fire safe location till you get used to lighting this lantern. Once they are up to temperature and running smoothly, they give great light and considerable heat. (And pretty good fuel economy) I've used one quite a bit, also the naphtha pressure lanterns and kerosene is by far the safer lantern/fuel.
The tube is called a generator. It heats the kero up and turns it into a gas. The gas fills the mantel (which is just ash) and bingo. A very bright light. This was the only light we had as kids.
The only thing this lantern has over the Coleman is the big reflector, and something like that would be easy enough to make. Plus, a Coleman is half the price and puts out more light.
What you have there is a cheap and dangerous Chinese version of the Petromax HK500 , yours should be about $20. The real Petromax is about $170 and will not kill you !
Petromax is not made in Germany, its a con, They are imported from Hong Kong(the vintage ones) China(modern ones) and rebadged as German. The clones are made in the same factory, and the only real difference is Petromax is chromed Brass, and the clones are chromed steel, which if you use them for sea fishing they go rusty quite quick.
Miles Stair's Wick Shop is an excellent source for newbie kerosene users. He has excellent articles about Butterfly stoves, gravity feed stoves, & the Butterfly Lantern that compliments Gene's videos. I read the articles & rewatched Gene's vids.😉
You got to let it warm first....same as an Aladin lamp....The preheat on both is extremely important. We called these lamps Amish lamps.....after like any once you figure it out its a great lamp.
It was an odd combination of using alcohol to preheat, which is standard on a lot of kerosene lanterns but then also using the blow torch rapid pre heater which can be used on its own to preheat Petromaxs or on British Rail specification Tilley Lamps.
Matter of fact if anybody’s got any suggestions of any kind of oils that do not affect the respiratory system as adversely I am open to suggestions without doubt I’ve looked into a number of different clean Cara scenes and most of them have been found wanting
I got that same looking lantern, all stainless, I bought it 20 years ago but never lit it. It was rated quite bright and a long run time, it is very well made and looks it also, I think I’m going to get it going one of these days. I never lit it because it actually is a beautiful looking lantern and all my lanterns get well used.
348 Loaded Lever - I think you will have issues with that old/new lantern. I bought a Brightlyt about 15 years ago and left it in the box. When I fueled it up last month, it was a disaster... springs were shot, gaskets dried out, etc.. mine went into the dumpster... hopefully you will have better luck than I did.
I have read a story for little girl in 1910s died due of lantern explosion, I wonder what causes the explosion and is it common for kerosene lantern to explode?
@@The_Great_Hejaz The above lantern is a kerosene lantern and needs preheating, if you fill it with gasoline/petrol it will go on fire or explode.... take care.
From what I understood it was not uncommon in those days to have kerosene mixed up with lower chain molecules. Namely the ones from LPG gas and petrol itself. They are easier to ignite, more volatile and can easily form clouds of combustible gasses. The components will fully mix and solve in eachother and since there wasn't yet a market for petrol as car fuel it was more profitable to destilate a kerosene with a quite low boiling- and flash point.
VERY cheap Chinese knock off of a Petromax, and dude ya don't need to use the preheat cup and the jet.........I have 4 Original Petromax......... Either works fine depending on your outside temp and more importantly fuel temp.
The jet has a hole in it that you can stick a match in when you ooen its valve. Than the jet will light and preheat your lamp. OR you use the preheat cup and alcohol, which is the slower but silent option. You don't have to use them both, just as Joe says.
Where I live one of the gasoline station sells kerosene, but you have to notice to see the tank, which is not next to the gasoline pumps. I found out by searching "kerosene" and my town's name and state. It's located less than a mile from my house. Kerosene looks like water and is clear, if it's different color, there are additives, which may be toxic. Plus, the Walmart in my town sells it. I buy some there at the END of the winter season when they reduce it.
For supply simplicity, it might be a good idea to have an off grid cooking & lighting system that runs on the same fuel type. So if you're using kerosene for lighting, then a stove that runs on kerosene could be considered. Propane/LPG is cleaner & easier to use. But its heavier, as much of the weight can be from the metal gas tank alone. Also, you will need to find a place with specialised refilling equipment, and its harder to transfer the fuel between tanks. Swaps can be used, but can be more expensive.
I use mineral spirits in mine, works like a champ. I have one of these lamps in my collection, but if you want superior quality go with the Aida or the Petromax. I have about 12 Aida's and 5 Petromax, very similar to me in quality.
I have a coleman pressurized kerosene lantern and it's no way near as complicated to use as that! You should really check into getting one if you like that kind of lantern. Plus it throws way more light than that one, it has two mantles in it, to boot. Here is a link www.fieldandstreamshop.com/p/coleman-premium-powerhouse-dual-fuel-lantern/15colulntrndf2mntcac?camp=CSE:GooglePLA:15COLULNTRNDF2MNTCAC:13540162:Lanterns&CAWELAID=120226720000008186&CAGPSPN=pla
That Coleman dual-fuel model you're speaking of is made to use gasoline and white gas. It is not intended for kerosene, although if I had one I might do a little experimenting.
The Dual fuel Colemans are more expensive to run and more dangerous because the fuel(unleaded petrol or white gas) is far more volatile than paraffin(kerosene) but I have to agree, they are less messing about, but like anything you get used to it and if you do it right you can go 8 hours without pumping, Horses for courses. In England Coleman lamps are a bit expensive(VAT and import fees etc) but I like them also.
