Hi all, can you ID this lamp for me please, found at boot fair this am. Didnt think too much of it, came with shattered globe and a lot of leaves inside. Pretty convinced it's a Coleman, love the stowage for mantle and bits, a new one on me, bloody good idea considering it only pinches a small amount of tank space. Anyway, interested in a date if poss and globe replacement source.
Hi @nicky boy Have a look in the lamp reference gallery in the Coleman section and scroll down to 252, 252a Mil Spec .. see what you think matches up
Thanks but even '44 or 45 milspec' is beyond my remit. Can you elaborate please. The bottom of the tank is very rusty, which is weird as the tank looks to be brass? Thx
The US military contracted with many manufacturers to build a military specific lantern... Many manufacturers through many years... Just from the examples I've seen and handled yours appears to be an earlier variant, mainly the lighter green color is the tell all... The center one pictured here is a 45 Coleman.
@Toby Garner pleade see pics, had a rub. Delta electric co. Marion ind. Made in USA. Aladdin conversion 1944. Is it worth getting a globe for and do you know what replacement is needed. Am just about to try from one of my more modern powerhouse. They seem to be tricky to light. Many thanks for your input.
I'm not a milspec connoisseur but I believe that is the correct burner for that early milspec... If I recall correctly Aladdin produced the burners for early milspec lanterns and lanterns that would be converted before the official military lantern would be produced... Hopeing others that know better will chime in...
Thanks. It doesnt light too well. If anyone can help just explain what the generator etc should look like id appreciate it. What's left of the label mentions cleaning the jet with a prickett. I cant find a jet per se. The generator appears to be the ali tube that just has a pinched top end. All new tech for me, s paraffin man in the main. I like the look of it and I have a 201 so they will look good together. Thanks all.
The generator should have a nipple (jet) . You can see the generator in this thread, 5th picture down. US Milspec SMP - 1986
@nicky boy Prior to and during early WWII the US military bought standard two-mantle lamps from the major US manufacturers, Coleman, Akron, AGM and possibly others. Mid war the US Army asked the makers to come up with a standard pattern lantern that would work on gasoline and would have a common set of parts. Aladdin came up with a single-mantle design of burner that would fit all the other makers's founts. The other change was to add the large well to the fount as a place to store spare parts such as pump leather, mantle, valve packing and wrench. Your lantern, from the collar and vent, appears to be a Coleman made lantern with Aladdin burner. The aluminum generator should have a brass jet in the end that is inserted in the burner. There is no internal pricker or cleaner in the generator, it has to be pricked from outside like a paraffin stove. Coleman called this model the 252A (252 was a regular fount without the parts well.) The fount could be either brass with a steel base plate or all steel. The frame, globe, pump, valve packing and vent are the same as a contemporary Coleman 220 lantern. Parts are available from Old Coleman Parts. Mil-spec is an abbreviation for military specification. When the US military wants to purchase a particular item that is not readily available off the shelf or has a very specific purpose they create an engineering description of the item describing all the things the item has to do and any particular abilities, materials or constraints. The design listing is commonly known as a mil-spec. It can be for anything from a hammer to an aircraft carrier. The government will put out a Request For Quotes (RFQ) or Request for Proposal (RFP) for mil-spec XYZ123. Mil-spec lanterns have no screen in the burner cap and tend to like lower pressure than standard CF fueled lanterns. Start with 10-15 pumps. You'll need to pre-heat the generator with a match lighter. If you use a butane lighter or mini-torch be sure to keep the flame moving as it is possible to melt the generator. Mil-specs are also a bit noisier than most lanterns. Good luck.
I found these parts digging through my spare parts. I believe the tool has the wire cleaners in them.
I have not been lucky enough to find one but I have seen that they have their own "quirks". @presscall put this up to show best way to light: Mil-spec lamp lighting procedure
