1944 Coleman Mil-Spec, Aladdin Conversion. Spare parts included a generator pricker, and mantle in wax paper. Stamped on base of fount: "US", "Lantern Gasoline Leaded Fuel", "Coleman", "1944". Base of generator assembly stamped "Aladdin Conversion 1944" Condition as found, less a covering of dust. Given a quick wipe over and the globe cleaned. Lantern has seen very little use, has been well stored and has no rust, or dents to the tank. As found: After wiping over: Base of fount: Maintenance Instructions: Operation Instructions: Fitting New Mantle Label: Spares:
Beautiful lamp, I collect WW2 equipment and have never seen one in this pristine condition. Congratulations
Very nice! I have one dated "1945". Mine is in the same condition. I got mine a number of years ago. I asked the person I bought it from where the got it and they told me from a surplus store in Long Beach, California! Just setting on a shelf in beautiful condition! Mine is on Terry Marsh's website. I never even unpacked the parts well; it was never touched! The WWII 252s are, in my opinion, easier to light and run much better than the later ones. Nice find (yours is a real stunner) and just great history!
@Alex Smith Wow, that’s a fantastic find. You have certainly hit the jackpot with that lantern. I’m not really that jealous, much Looking forward to seeing the money shot. Enjoy Cheers Pete
@AussiePete @george @JEFF JOHNSON @Thomas Thank you for your kind comments. Money shot will follow in due course, I'm saving it for a special day!
Although very clean and tidy externally, internally was a different story (the previous owner did say that it had not been fired up in over 30 years). The tank had some form of fuel residue in it and the fuel pick up was blocked. Cleaned it all up, rebuilt, here is the money shot. (Running Aspen 4 and a #21 Silk-Lite mantel).
Well done @Alex Smith on your money shot. This proves that you’ve done an excellent operational fettle. Enjoy, she’s a beauty. Cheers Pete
@AussiePete Thank you, a operational fettle is exactly what was required. Flushed the tank with citric acid, then a little evapo rust (for the steel base) to remove a little rust. Between the two treatments and some carb cleaner managed to free up the NRV. The fuel pick up wasn't functioning correctly, gummed up. That got stripped, treaded to a citric acid bath and cleaned. All good from there. The fun part was learning how many pumps were required to pressurize it while doing the blue flame test - it would light and hold the flame anywhere between 3 and 8 pumps. She goes really really well. A nice lantern to work on.
What type of globe did this come with? Would it be the straight green Coleman logo with Pyrex on the opposite side?
Originally the period Coleman one piece globe. Post war they switched to a fourpiece globe, known to collectors as a quad globe. A set of four rails clipped to the frame uprights to hold the globe panels. Idea was that a single piece of the quad could be replaced versus a whole globe. Also allowed the replacement pieces to pack in a much smaller and sturdier package.
