I believe this to be one of the earliest PW lanterns. Many features that differ from the models that come after. Fine tooth valve wheel, small ball nut, no burner to frame support, 5" mica with solid lighting door and brass split rivets, no brand stamp on the identification badge, and no wings on the pump/filler combo. If anyone has anymore insight into the early PWs I'd love to hear it. Thanks for looking.
Here's a thread I did a couple years ago showing the innards of an L13. I think this must have been a very early one because the valve stem is brass. All the others I've seen are steel. My guess is brass stems were prone to torque failure. It's a shame because the steel valve stem is the one weak point of PW lanterns. The tip, which is a sealing surface on both sides is prone to rusting and pitting and therefore leaking.
Hi Toby, I'm working on a PW L13 and your photos are very helpful. I got a M1950 pump rebuild kit from OCP and am trying to reassemble. However when fitted on and nutted down to the pump handle stem, the pump leather is / seems to be way too large to fit into the tube. I doubt the wrong size pump leather would have been sent so am I missing something? Thank you Cole
Yes, I have the same PW L13. It sat in a Northern Michigan barn for 50 years. I recently got another one off Ebay and refurbished it with help from M Bonner in Santa Rosa, CA. Now works great!!
@Cole Peters sorry for the delay. I missed my notification somehow. After fettling dozens of these PW lanterns I found that Tilley pump cups were the best fit. I do have to open up the center hole just a bit, but otherwise very close to original.
Toby, my apologies if this is a repeat send of the PW lanterns parts I've found very useful to their refurbishing. Bruce
