Hello, Here is an example of a 1930's "242-like" Coleman lantern from my collection.The images shown were taken prior to restoration. It exibits a pastel-Green ventilator, an early form of pump plunger, evidence of having had a preheater cup, an incomplete filler cap, and what I find perplexing - a cresent-shaped "match-lighting" door on the globe rest. There is no model identification on the base rest, but date numbers 4 and 9 are stamped on the underside of the fount. The date of 9 / 34 is stamped below the logo on the side of the fount. On Shizo Kono's incredible website http://www.geocities.jp/gkpllantern/33_Coleman_242.html There is a model 242K from Terry Marsh's collection. this lantern exibits an early pump plunger, a cresent door, preheater cup, and date markings on the underside and side of the fount. as well, there are is no model identification on the base rest. The difference between the two is the color of ventilator and the generator cleaning wheel - my example has a more typical bent wire form. My Questions are: Were there any other Canadian Coleman models of 242-like form made in the 1930's with a cresent-shaped door on the globe rest? Is the Lantern in my collection a 242K? Best Regards, Chris W - Winnipeg, Canada
Having a bit of difficulty learning how to post image groups - I'll figure it out eventually. Here is the lantern:
...And here is the burner. My apologies for my technical difficulties. I'm very curious to see what all of you come up with regarding this lantern's "species".
Greetings Doron! Thank you for your reply. A 242K, eh? Very good then. Was it the only model that you are aware of that has this cresent-shaped door on it?
Well, if you can load one image into the File Manager, then you can load several by exactly the same method. Now you just put the cursor into your text where you want an image to appear. Then click on 'Thumbnail' or 'Full Size' in the file manager, as appropriate, next to the image in question and the forum software inserts it at the cursor position. Otherwise leave the cursor in one position, click as above, and the images will appear directly after each other. It's useful to add a blank line between the code for each image to separate them in the post. You can either type in all the text and add the images one-by-one at the correct places or add the images as you go along typing the text. The forum software sometimes seems to add extra lines around images. I delete these to keep my posts tidy, but that's me, I guess...
Thank you Doron - Until we hear otherwise, I guess I'll close the file on this one. I'll try the suggested image method the next time I post a lantern or question. Many thanks.
A wee bit too early to close the file on this one, Chris - I'd wait until Neil and/or some of the big Coleman collectors get here... 8)
Thanks Mike. Have you ever seen such a door on Canadian Colemans from the 1930's? As of late, I've aquired about 5 242-like lanterns from the 30's and 40's. two of them are what I believe to be Model 234's from the 1930's, two are 242B's from the 1940's(with pastel-Green founts), and then I find this one - I have never seen a door on any of the Coleman models from this time period - except for the example shown on Shinzo Kono's site. Mind you, I've only had lantern fever for about 3 years - and I've found it's much worse in the winter months!
We really need a Canadian expert here such as Matthew Reid or George Rocen. However I do know that the later 242K lanterns had the bent wire pricker lever. This lantern has to be later anyway because of the top nut style. 1934 is too early for it to be an early 247 so a late 242K it has to be. ALL the 242Ks are rare so this is a nice find. Shinzo? Yes a good site but where is Shinzo? He is a member of the Guild and we were in regular contact up to about two or three years ago but for quite some time now there has been silence. I would love to know what has happened and if he is OK and still with us. ::Neil::
Thanks Neil. This lantern is non-functional at the present time, though it has been cleaned and reassembled. There's enough "period" spare parts here to finish the restoration, but I'm working on other lanterns right now. It has an unfortunate check valve issue though, and all attempts to remove it have failed - Now I'm too worried about being too aggressive & damaging the fount... further. A custom-made check valve removal tool only succeeded in warping the surface of the fount immediatly surrounding the pump mount from excessive torque. My wife can tell you how horrific the event was, as she heard my howls of shock & dispair coming from the "Lantern Room" and hurried to investigate. That incident happened a year ago, and I'm still recovering. I get upset by the slightest nick on a brass fitting, when I'm doing a restoration project, and that event ranks as the most catostrophic incident since I began collecting. It's rather sad to report this event to the forum, but it helps the "healing" by talking about it! Perhaps others may learn by it.
Here's an image of the lantern as it appears today. The damage to the fount is clearly visible surrounding the pump. Though this is very shallow warping of the surface, it does not affect the opreation of the lantern... Hmm... I guess I've said enough. Going out for a smoke now...
Hi Chris: Nice lamp. Sorry to hear of your check valve and fount troubles. See Coleman check valve repair I posted in the fettling forum. Mike...
I see the videos of the Tsunami in Japan and think of him. The website has vanished but even when it was up there were no recent updates. He was a real nice fellow and I pray that he is OK.
And to just muddy the waters a little bit. The Canadian 242Ks that were sent to Australia had all the attributes of the 242K but without the lighting door. I have 2 in my collection. The following pictures are of the earliest example along with its parts breakdown. . The date on this 242K is 9 35 representing September 1935. As you can see it has the 242K early finally grooved control valve wheel, early pump pined shaft configuration with an early pip type NRV, the wheel pricker control, the hex headed screw on the filler cap and the aluminium preheater cup. It also has the stepped frame plate but conspicuously, no lighting door. The other 242K in my collection is dated 12 35 representing December 1935 and it is sort of in-between the above 242K and the 247. It has the 242K early finally grooved control valve wheel, early but slightly later pump configuration (no pins on the shaft with an air stem NRV), the wheel pricker control, the standard later type screw on the filler cap and the aluminium preheater cup. It also has a flat bottomed frame plate and once again, no lighting door. Perhaps it could have been made up in the factory from left over parts, just guessing here. Cheers Pete
@george I suspect that the second or later example of my lamps is a transitional lamp to a 247. It has all the features of the 247 excepting it has the 242K pricker control and matching collar. Here is its parts photo (I’m actually fettling it as we speak) As I research I’m coming to the conclusion that the above is an almost a 247 that was factory put together with a left over 242K valve/pricker control and the associated collar. The 242K, I showed earlier in this discussion, has everything that the documented Canadian 242K has, the date is right and it even has the stepped frame base ...... but no lighting door. So I’m punting for it being a 242K variance. Cheers Pete
