A PERENNIAL LIGHT IN THE DARK – 100 YEARS OF PETROMAX A century ago, Berlin-based engineer Max Greaetz, nicknamed ‘Petroleum-Maxe’, laid the foundation for the brand Petromax when he invented the High-Pressure Lamp HK500. Today, the ‘Made in Germany’ company celebrates 100 years of success.
comprehensive tool kit, spare parts and care products. The retro-style metal box is not only a very special item for hobbyists, but also a visual homage to the iconic German brand.
TEXT: TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE | PHOTOS: PETROMAX
www.petromax.de Let there be light! That’s precisely what it must have felt like when Max Greatz developed his innovative paraffin lamp in the early 20th century. Up until then, such a bright and independent source of light simply had not existed. For the population of that time, this meant a significantly improved quality of life and it was certainly no small achievement. The company’s grand success story started with the patent registration for the portable version of Petromax HK500 in 1921 and, up until the 1960s, the sturdy light was exported from Germany all over the world.
While still a business student, the presentday managing director acquired the trademark and revived production in Germany. In just over 15 years, Taureck and his wife Dr Pia Christin have turned Petromax into one of Germany’s leading manufacturers of equipment for outdoor cooking and outdoor living with new headquarters in Magdeburg. New customers are mainly people who are very similar to the Taurecks: thirsty for adventure with a passion for travelling and always in search of robust equipment for unique experiences in nature.
In 2000, Jonas Taureck discovered the then-forgotten iconic lamp during an adventure trip in the African desert. On the way to South Africa, his Magirus-Deutz truck got stuck in the sand many times. In a tiny yet brightly lit desert village, he hoped to find electricity for the truck batteries but, instead, he discovered the HK500.
All innovation aside, the operating principle of the High-Pressure Lamp has remained unchanged. The Petromax classic, composed of over 200 single pieces, is still assembled by hand and completely ‘Made in Germany’, just as it was 100 years ago. To honour its 100th birthday, the lamp comes with a vintage Limited-Edition Service Box featuring a
16 | Issue 89 | January 2022
Petromax retail brochure 1939-1941.
