well, I've played with it long enough. I've had it. they sent me a new leather plunger, which is worse than the one it arrived with. thats it, folks, in my opinion, dont order the petromax, not unless your fairly adept at cursing. the plunger system is garbage. and Im not exactly an asshole when it comes to dealing with "how things work", having dealt with persnickity harley davidsons all my life.

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), March 10, 1999

Answers

Ed, see this Link and follow the next link. Only trying to help. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 11, 1999.

Hi Ed,

I agree. The pump is a real bear. I finally took the (*&%%^&)_ leather out and squished it until it made a disk (as best I could). Now I can pump the thing up to pressure in about 5-7 minutes (didn't time it closely). However, it's still a real bear of a pump.

Seems to me that since it screws on, a better piston design might be practical.

-- Dean -- from (almost) Duh Moines (dtmiller@nevia.net), March 11, 1999.

ed,

If you subsequently get a pump up type Coleman, would you report back to us and compare you experiences?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 11, 1999.

in answer tO your question about getting a coleman, I wouldnt even consider it. I went fishing at night with a friend many years ago, who had a coleman. when it worked, I was very impressed. however, it wouldnt work for more than three minutes, before trouble with the mantle occurred. before that night was over, he had gone thru six matles, and right before we called it quits, he thru the thing in the lake. I came away from that experience knowing I would never buy a coleman

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), March 11, 1999.

ed,

Thanks for the answer. Hate to hear of all you bad experiences. But I do understand that when you've had those bad experiences you woul be shy of something.

I actually kinda like the hiss of a good pressure lantern - lots of good memories of fishing and hunting in there. But by far the best memories are of bieng a kid of about 6-7 and following my Dad half the night coon hunting when he had the only light - a plain old kerosene lantern. As low tech as it gets, and as reiliable as it gets.

I've had nothing but good experience with Coleman products and Petromax. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Good Luck to you.

-- Greybear, who has spent too much time out at night

- Got Batteries?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 11, 1999.

I called today & discovered that they have made a new, improved gasket pressure gadget to replace the old design. Has anyone tried this new one & still can't get it to work. The owner told me "If someone bought the old model, just ask for the new gadget? (forgot the name) and I will send you the new one". He said you only have to pump 45 times to get it to work. Some people only pump 20-30 times & indeed it may seem not to be working His number is 1-800-856-3045. Hope this helps.

-- Ray (Kcorner67@hotmail.com), March 11, 1999.

ED!

GARBAGE version 2 is pretty good.

as is v. 001.

not too sure about the pmax.,

i give garbage a 5 out of 5 mushroom clouds :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), March 11, 1999.

I have used Coleman products for years with very lttle trouble. The only problems I have ever had, was when some asshole would put plain gas in it and clog it up, our bang it hard and break the mantles. (ME) Scotty

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), March 11, 1999.

Ed, was that Coleman that had problems a gas or kerosene model? I've had the kerosene type for years, and it has NEVER failed me. Ditto on the gas models, although I only had the one, and sold it because I never felt comfortable with it - explosion factor and all that. As for your bad experience with the Coleman - might I suggest that in the dark, on the water, is not the place to be tying delicate little mantles on any lantern, and that might account for the bad experience? Fact is that if you touch a mantle with your fingers before flashing it off, the chances are that it'll get holes in it, and disintegrate rapidly. I'd be willing to wager that that's what happened to your friend's mantles.

sparks - who's still pushing those Coleman kerosene lanterns for all their worth :)

-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 11, 1999.

You have reassured me that I have made the right decision to go with the floresent lantern, nicad batteries and a solar battery charger. The batteries were the big cost, but should last 500-1000 charges. I am in AZ where the sun shines everyday, so no lack of power for charger. I will have a lamp oil backup, plus a couple of good flashlights (with rechargable "AA"s) Let there be light!

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), March 11, 1999.

Where can I buy a solar battery charger from ?

-- (someone@somewhere.com), March 11, 1999.

d,

Sorry to hear you're throwing in the towel. Mine seems to get a little better with each use - I love to show it off. I recommed it to family and friends but they do get to see that it requires effort. Either I'm getting the knack better or the plunger is fluffing up - still have to work to get it up to full pressure but the light is really bight.

Heck why'd you go and return it, I would have made the next bid at $60. (With luck we could have gotten you more than you paid from someone who didn't want to wait on a back order. Would have continued bidding sooner byt thought when you got it going on 3/1 you weren't going to part with it.)

Good luck. jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), March 11, 1999.

Geez,

I've never had problems with either Coleman OR Petromax. I'm detecting a little laziness hear. No, it's not as easy as flipping a switch. You have to "work" for your light. And you have to pay attention to prevent mantle failures.

I suggest you keep it, and wait for an attitude change in about a year.

Jolly hates lazy people.

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), March 11, 1999.

Solar battery charger at . . .

www.beprepared.com

-- David (David@BankPacman.com), March 11, 1999.

also at http://www.realgoods.com/

-- argh (argh@12milesaway.com), March 11, 1999.

Jolly,

Come on, Ed isn't that bad, after all he likes his harley and those are nice bikes. Could be his had a defective pump tube or something. Then again, maybe he's a coleman dealer.

Ed,

Are you a coleman dealer whose getting p.o.'d because pmax is taking too much of your business?

All,

Went to ant-ti-que shop today in search of the evasive aladin. Saw not one but two. What pmax has in bright, these had in class. So pretty the wife would love them. But at $225 each they weren't that pretty. (Besides, some jerk had ripped their guts out, drilled holes in the bottom and eletrified them -- what a waste.) So much for antiques.

Good Luck jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), March 11, 1999.

Was in a small town near me in and OLD hardware store and found 6 Alladins on the shelf. Looked like they had been there for 20 yrs. Still at the old price.

Didn't but them cause past experience with Alladin make me want either plain old lamps or pressure lanterns.

Are Alladins really getting that rare. (Maybe I shold go back and get those. What are Alladins selling for on the street now?)

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 12, 1999.

Last night, 5 minutes from start to walking away with Petromax up and running! Cleaned nearly all of the oil from the plunger leather, works way faster, nearly like a Coleman.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), March 12, 1999.

ray! I caled the number you provided and asked for the new gasket! the guy said " where did you get your lantern from"? I imediatley responded, "brytlyte". he said, "sorry, cant help ya, you will have to get the gasket from them". I said, "but I heard you have a gasket that will fix the problem". he said, "sorry, cant help ya"

-- ed (edrider007@aol.com), March 12, 1999.

GB,

I'm happy with the petrom, was just looking for something with a little finesse for the misses. Something she'd appreciate the aesthetics of... If they are the ones with nice brass base and decorative painted shades I just might be inclined to take one off your hands... If you are so inclined the email is legit. Trying to remember your whereabouts - don't suppose it's NC way?

jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), March 12, 1999.

We have 2 Alladin lamps. One from an antique store, and one from Lehman's.

The Antique store one was purchased in haste, but we dickered to a good price. It's a classic aluminum one a "Model C" which places it around the 1950's. It was complete sans mantle.

We also bought a current "Model 23". It uses same mantle,and (apparently) the same wick as Model "C". This one is a "Watchman" with a shade and wall brackets.

They are both *COOL*. I wouldn't give up either one of them. I like my Petromax for outdoors, too.

Total cost for "C" - $90 (US) Wathchman (with shade) - $70

Jolly has seen the light.

-- Jollyprez (jolly@prez.com), March 13, 1999.

Greybear,

Just got back from a week in eastern NC. For fun popped into over two dozen antique shops looking for oil lamps and specifically Alladins. Founds lots of conversions where font had been pierced to electrify. What a shame, some gorgeous lamps destroyed - some of the destroyed were even Alladins. Only found Alladins two in working order. Both 1930's vintage. One, original all round, was priced at 345 and the other had a replacement shade for 175.

Checked out 8 OLD time supply (hardware) stores. They were great places - take them over today's super stores anyday. Lots of standard style oil lamps. Lots of Alladin parts. But didn't see one Alladin lamp. However one supply store had Petromax's on the shelf - top shelf have to crane your neck to see them but sure as heck there they were. Looked like 125 would get you one on the spot. (Apologies to the good the folks in NC - I know I'm butchering the name of the town but I think it was Chenese or Chenesse - something like that.)

jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), March 20, 1999.