PRIMUS
The Swedish Primus company was the pioneer of blowlamps and stoves and has produced a myriad of blowtorches (blowlamps). They are usually dated with a code on the tank base.
Primus 605 (Kerosene 2.5 pt – 1926)
Notes: This brazing lamp has a special spiral tube burner along with a regulating valve screw to adjust the intensity of the flame whilst retaining the air pressure in the tank. The pump in handle feature is enhanced with string insulation on the handle. The replacement draught hood has been fabricated similar to the rusted original. A steel cushion band elevates the bottom of the tank on rough ground. The lamp was designed for brazing and heating work and was part of the Tarantella series of brazing lamps (aka torches).
Primus 615 (Kerosene 2.25 pt – 1939)
Notes: The model 615 is a heavy duty brazing torch with a cast iron front piece protecting the burner tube in close work. The regulating valve screw adjusts the flame and unlike on the model 605 it is not directly on the burner itself. The usual steel cushion band protects the base. The unit is displayed without the draught shield.
Primus 618 (Kerosene 6 pt – 1949)
Notes: This 6 pt brazing torch produces a 15” flame. The original burner was damaged and has been replaced. The front nozzle (A) is made of cast iron and the nipple and orifice are also visible at (B). The regulating valve screw enables the unit to be turned down or off whilst retaining pressure in the tank. The burner has vapourising coils (C) designed to minimise carbon formation. The draught shield is not installed. The brazing torch retailed for 56 shillings in 1934.
Primus 631 (Kerosene 1/2 pt – abt 1955)
Notes: This smaller handy blowtorch has folding metal handles and a 10 mm longer pump tube than later model 631 units from the 1960s. The air release screw is marked PRIMUS / SWEDEN. Later models have PRIMUS / PRIMUS.
Primus ‘Aetna’ 2 (Later 632) (Kerosene 1 pt – abt 1898)
Notes: The Aetna series date from 1895. The filler cap is not the flattish original stamped cap. The handle was originally wrapped in cane which is now missing. Because this is a 1 pt model with an inclined burner the Aetna 2 identification appears to be correct.
Primus 632 (Kerosene 1 pt)
Notes: The model 632 was the most popular Primus blowlamp and was part of the original Aetna series of lamps. The Aetna blowlamp was the world’s first kerosene (aka paraffin) blowlamp. The 632 is stated to give a 10” flame. Production of this blowtorch ran for several decades. The later style 632 (middle image) with a more open handle featured a built in spirit cup and a flat coin opened filler cap (lower image).
© 2000-2025 Terry Marsh
The Terrence Marsh Lantern Gallery 