Just finished fettling this yesterday. It is a 1945 Colman 252A “Milspec”. And it has the original Quad Glass panels.
Looks great! I just fettled one I bought and got it lit. It burned bright and loud, but after two separate burns, the mantle is already blown out. What size mantle is proper? I just used a #21 because it appeared to be about the same size as the original extra mantle inside the spare parts tube.
#21s are fine. Milspecs do not like too much pressure, nor too big a mantle. Most people seem to start at 5-7 pump strokes and then a few or 10 more once lit. This might explain your blown mantle, or you could have just been unlucky.
Thanks, @Fireexit1 . I’ll start with lower pressure. I’ve just been pumping 12 times to start and then about 12 more after it’s burning well. I was going to try a larger mantle like a #11, but I’ll refrain from doing that.
+1 on the issue of pressure....If the lantern is full of fuel, I start with 6 or 7 pumps and then add about 8 more once it is going. I also note that Coleman 21s blow out a lot more these days on all lanterns... so i would try another 21 sized mantle. You might also try a Peerless Brand # 2C-HG. they tend to be a bit less likely to get holes.... Best mantles are the old Coleman coarse weave Silk-Lites. They seem to last forever.
I know @Fireexit1 told me these lanterns don’t like larger mantles, but I have been using a larger #11 mantle the past three times I’ve fired up mine. It seems to work great. I have them to use in a new 639 kero, so figured I’d try it in the ‘59 MilSpec. So far, so good.
