Hi Guys, This is my first post and I apologise for abusing this forum in the past by reading posts for a couple of years but never ever joining until now because I am really stumped. Can anyone please tell me what the black ventilator (or really dark brown, unsure- colour blind) is from. I found it on one of my Handi Lanterns, but Handi Lanterns ventilators have a hole for a locating stud near where the bail enters (as seen in the grey Handi example in pic). It is similar in dimensions to my Coleman 249 ventilator, but missing slits for bail and obviously not Coleman Green. What else could it be? I added two images so you can see dimensions. The locating stud had been cut off so the ventilator fit perfectly.
One other thing is that I believe that the earliest Handi Lanterns did not have a locating stud on the support. However all 9 of my Handis do and it doesn't make sense to me that an earlier variation ventilator would be found on a later variation lantern as the ventilators chip/rust/deteriorate quicker than other parts of the lantern. So, slightly different dimensions and no locating hole are the main reasons I'm looking elsewhere, rather than the obvious answer being that it is genuine Handi.
And here a pic of 6 of my Handi ventilators. All the same dimensions. Just different colored enamel (although the back red one was painted with VHT red as it has badly deteriorating)
Thanks Jeff. If anyone could even tell me where else to possibly look for an answer it would be appreciated. Sorry about my description of colors. My wife and son both told me that it was definately black and the Handi ventilator on left of pic was a silver/blue (not grey like some of the other Handi). But I guess anyone reading knew what I meant. Thanks that color blindness gene was not passed on. . very frustrating at times Tony
Welcome to a fellow Aussie I have 4 - 5 Handi`s all seem to have curved edge on vent top cap your squared off one ?? looks Coleman-ish is it the same dia for globe as your others?. Only other options are to search in Lamp Reference Gallery and be patient someone may be able to I D it for you. Graham::
G'day Graham, yep, the top section is squared off and the diameter of the top part a good 20mm'ish less as well. A few mm shorter height as well, and much smaller diameter of the center holed section, compared to both coleman and Handi. I checked the gallery from end to end, surely I missed something. I didn't have a globe for this one, but one of my only 2 unbroken original Handi glasses does fit (dont know a modern replacement do you? I have a couple of straight sided, campingAz that fit..ish)
Hi Tony, i have a few Handi, and among them i have the very first Swiftlight, your mystery ventilator looks like it, they aremodeled on the AGM 100 regards Frank
Thanks Frank. I agree that the closest match I can find in the gallery is the one Handi swiftlite. And despite it being on a Keropet in fairly good nic, it probably is a swiftlite hood. Not a lot of pictures of swiftlites around and I'd love to see a pic of yours if your able to. Thanks for responding. I will consider it solved. Now I need the rest of a Handi Swiftlite to go with it. Anybody got a spare?
Albert White who has the Handi website may have some actual Handi glasses, the link below is for that website, Jeff. http://handimuseum.tripod.com/index.htm
THATS IT! Very nice Frank . I seriously think that belongs in the CPL gallery! In good nic to. And the glass is the original as well? something doesn't seem right about the fit of it, looking at the gap between glass and edge of support at bottom. It seems to bulge a bit more than the keropet glasses I have, which I understand cracks from bail hitting it if you put it in a swift lite. (And a nice original version of the 246 pork pie hiding in the back. I have the second variation of the pork pie, very good lamps) Maybe someone on the forum here needs a swiftlite hood. I would rather it helped to complete a swiftlite than end up on a franken lantern if I keep it. Thanks Jeff, I had visited the Handi museum site before, but just guessed that it wasn't maintained by owner often as front page says Updates - 2002. I presume it belongs to the Handi Albert who's name i have seen a bit on some forums, usually followed by "where is Handi Albert?"Has anybody heard from Handi Albert?". seems to have disappeared.
Thanks for the reply Tony, the glass on the lamp is not a Handi Tony, it is a bulge glass that happens to roughly fit a Swift lite, same as 550 Coleman globe, but will not fit standard Handie's, i have a stack of army surplus Schott Suprax West German glasses i picked up from a disposal store, i just put one on that lamp to rob the original Handi globe, Yep, i love my pork pie Tilley, Frank
G'day and welcome to the forum. The first of the KeroPet's used the same style hood as the Swiftlite. I don't know how long they kept that hood before going over to the 'normal' one, but I have seen quite a few. Glasses are a challenge. Probably only half the Handi's I have are with original glass. There must be a glass out there that is compatible, but I havn't found it yet.
Hi There, In talking with Albert 8 years ago we came to the conclusion that the only Handi Lantern that could be called a " Swift Light " was the first one. There are 3 variations of this Lantern, the last 2 the " Swift Light " had disappered from the plaque. All with the AGM burner. These burners had a rectangle section at the top that the vent / hood seated into. All variations had Red vents. Swift Light Vent After the AGM burner there was about 25 different versions of the Keropet. The vent in question does not have the rectangle in the top. So I doubt it can be termed " Swift Light ". Frank unless yours say's Swift Light its a Keropet. Still using the AGM burner but with a " transitional " vent so to speak. I would hazard a guess probably early 40's before their new burner. I notice you have a blue plaque on it, is it original? Handi generally reserved the blue plaque for their Shellite Models and it stated such. Although Albert did say they did introduce kerosene blue plaques later on in production. Still a very nice example of a Handi product though. Handi started in '38 making Marine Stoves etc but no records state when the Lantern appeared although there is a patent in 42 or so for their Tripod Burner. The fact there is 2 at this stage indicates it's Handi but where it fits in is open to question. I tend to think the " Swift Light " does not refer to the Lantern only. Handi marketed a Stove also called " Swift Light " in the same era. Drawing a conclusion from this fact indicates they were swift or easy to light As to Albert, he is some where in Australia in his Combi Van. Where is he Jeff? Colin
Hi Colin, thanks for the great input,you got me thinking after i read your post, the lantern and dark blue badge are original, i put a magnifying glass on the the badge to get a accurate reading, on the left of the small shield in the middle it says swift lite, the other side, Handi works, down at the bottom of the badge is states for Shellite,it has the AGM type burner,the great grandson of the original Handi Works Company in the late 30ies visited with me some time back and bought his Swift lite up to compare them, he said it was a swift lite, this may add to the confusion, thanks Colin regards Frank
Hi Frank, If there is one thing that's consistent with collecting Australian Lanterns it's confusion. Pop the vent off and have a look at the top of the Burner. It should have the rectangle for the vent. Does your vent have the rectangle in it? If not I would say it has been replaced at some time. The early Vents did not stand the test of time, I have 4 or 5 and all are past their prime. The one pictured has been " doctored " up. Colin
Just checked it now Colin to make sure of the hole and yes it is a rectangle hole that fits over a square steel knob that the cap screw screws into, Frank
I was trying to think of a way around this but couldn't Good one Frank, another Colour for the " Swift Light" Colin
These last few posts have been very informative. Yet lead to so many more questions/confusion. So different from collecting Colemans where everything is easily (mostly) and clearly classified. For anyone reading this interested in just getting a glass for using your Keropet, I put this CampingAz glass on one of my Handi's so I can use it without risking breaking a glass on one of my better examples. Shame its frosted.
Hello Colin, I have been in contact with Albert White via e-mail only, so he could be anywhere, Jeff.
That sounds interesting. I have two "Swiftlites". One with the integral pump/filler cap and no plaque (see [url=http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/1280 ) and one with the KeroPet style tank but with a Swiftlite plaque. Both have the 'square' hole in the vent to match the burner, but both vents are blue. I had always assumed that the KeroPet name started with the new burner.
Hi Jeff, I have tried to email Albert a few weeks ago but have not had any response. How long is it since you were in touch?
Hello Nils, it was about 5 weeks ago and I have sent an e-mail to him today. I shall let you know if I receive a reply, Jeff.
Hi All, I stand corrected, Handi was Registered in 1933 and de-registered in 1999. Now for the good stuff, all comments are from observations only. Obviously there are other observations out there, feel free to post any comments as the all add to the larger picture. Handi Version 1 AGM Burner, Removable Pump, Swift Light on plaque No Filler Cap as fill through Pump. Nils, was not aware of the Blue vent, so that make 3 colours at this stage of V1 Handi Version 2 You will notice new incorporated pump in Fount with 3 styles of filler caps. 1 the wing nut style and the 1 circular both have thumb screw to release pressure. The painted Fount has the new " Handi " filler cap that is out there today. All Plaques refer to the " Handi Keropet" and Kerosene operation. So at this stage the " Keropet came into existence. There would be V2 with Swift Light on them as a run out of old plaques. Version 3 This one is the 1st of the 25 variations or so of the Keropet we know today. New Tripod all one casting with the burner cap screwing into the casting. Insect screens on Air Intake to burner. So there you have it, this is the conclusion I have come to. Open to discussion, yes there will be V2 with Swift Light and Shellite but there is also V2 that are Keropets and Kerosene. But the Keropet came into existance before the new Tripod Burner As a side note the way to determine if kerosene or Shellite have a look at the jet. Shellite has a circle around the jet and a coil in the Generator. Hope this adds to the confusion. Colin
There must have been a version in between 2 and 3. I have a couple of lamps with the new tripod burner but with the narrow top hood (Swiftlite type) and the small hole collar. From memory there are no plaques on them but will check tomorrow (I'm back home in Bundy on holidays at the moment).
Hi Nils, Welcome Home. It stands to reason that there might be other variations / differences in the movement of 2 to 3. New Tripod / Old Collar ... New Tripod / New Collar. I suppose we can put it all down to disposal of old stock. Colin
Hello one and all, the message below is the reply which I received from Albert White today, Jeff. Hi Jeff If any one is looking for my new email address feel welcome to pass it on to them. I have moved on from collecting lanterns as I do intend to travel around for a while, not sure when I will start or finish. I still have all my collection and at this stage have no intention to sell most of them, but Im willing to sell a lot of my duplicates. As far as my parts they can go. Globes for Handi lights are still hard to come by, but I know of a bloke that does have some for sale so I can always give him a ring, regards Albert.
