Early AA Coleman Air O Lite

Got this a couple weeks ago, unfortunately the fount had 9 stress cracks, but a friend had a later turbin fount which I used for the photos, did seal the original with POR 15 and that fount works also. Easy to work on, once the generator can be unscrewed from the valve, left some Vise Grip marks, but snapped it loose, heat and penetrant may have helped. Inside the genny, is a larger diameter steel rod at the lower end and a much thinner one around 3.5"/88mm long at the upper end with a asbestos? wick around it. Just above that is a dome shaped piece with two holes and a fine screen above it which goes at the top of the genny and all is capped off with the heavy genny tip with a tiny hole of course. The lit photos show the heat shield under the smoke bell inside down.
Duane

 

@hikerduane

That’s a great lamp you have there. It’s running well and good to see a 100 year old (or more) lamp running so well.

Cheers

Tony

 

A grand old lamp!

 

@hikerduane

She runs well and is a grand old lady.

Regards Jeremy

 

Thank you guys, after I received the good fount from a friend, I let this run about 4.5 to 5 hours until it ran out of fuel. The fount was very clean inside unlike the original. Runs sweet. This model was made from 1912 - 1922. The embossed valve cover and no stamp on the disc around the bungs dates it as a early model.
Duane

 

Congratulations Duane, a wonderful job getting it cleaned up and running so nicely.

 

Founts look better in pics than in person. My friends has some dents, dings, but is solid.
Duane

 

Whoever desiged that lamp had a sense of humour

 

@hikerduane

Is the following photo the base plate of the replacement fount?

 

Yes, notice the spaced "bumps" around the perimeter.
Duane

 

Grand old lady, at least 100 years old, up and operating.
Well done @Matty
Cheers
Pete

 

What did I do?

Yes, thanks for the reply Duane.

 

@Matty
I don’t know, but you did it very well indeed.
I’ll take my meds now.
Cheers mate
Pete

 

Neither of my “Coleman” turbin tanks from mid-1910s have the “beads”.

Tony

 

Just a guess going off shapes in the "book" put out by the ICCC.
Duane

 

Hi HickerDuane,
Found your post above and hope you can help me with a question.

I recently acquired a similar Air-O-Lite and the generator needs to be removed and the generator cleaned. It is on there pretty tight and taking my time to get it loose so I don’t damage or crimp it.

My question involves how to best service and rebuild the generator. Your description helps understand the components inside but wondering if you have any additional suggestion. It was passing fuel but not as bright as it should be. I removed the brass screen found at the top of the asbestos packing (a second screen in addition to the one in the dome. Cleaned both screens and replaced them but that seemed to clog the generator right at the top, hence the need to fully service.

I tried to use a pricker on the top metal piece but fear I got the need broken and stuck in one of the small holes (looks to be at least two very small openings but difficult to see.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have about the process.

Dalton