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yeah that's mica for sure, the paint on the tank should be nickle plating over brass. i think the bottom if the tank is steel. the date is likely there, just may be a light stamping and to compound it filled with solder or paint or grime and dirt.
I’ve only owned one lantern that old. Looks like a Coleman Quicklite:
Open or closed ball nut?
Has a Hex bail attachment.
Embossed vent? Or unmarked?
Base plate has cut outs.
I would expect a fiber valve wheel on the end of the valve stem. That may have been switched out at some time?
I’m guessing the generator was switched out to a more practical roto-type.
I’ve only owned one lantern that old. Looks like a Coleman Quicklite:
Open or closed ball nut?
Has a Hex bail attachment.
Embossed vent? Or unmarked?
Base plate has cut outs.
I would expect a fiber valve wheel on the end of the valve stem. That may have been switched out at some time?
I’m guessing the generator was switched out to a more practical roto-type.
1922?
Open ball nut
Unmarked vent
Hex bail attachment
1922... maybe?
Picked up a brand new, never used Coleman 275 today. Dated 2-1980. It is missing the bail for some reason though, and lost at some point over the last forty years. Has the protective factory cardboard inside the globe, along with the warranty/survey card, owners instruction manual and the mantle packet.
Also as a bonus I picked up a couple vintage Coleman keychains. One has a thermometer and compass on the face, and on the back side, is a MPH wind speed vs. air temp chart for wind chill factor on exposed skin. The little compass is spot on accurate.
Also got a mini 200A LED light. There is a sticker dated 3-2000 in the battery compartment
The 275 lantern was $7.50 and the keychains were ten cents each
One of the local SoCal FTE members here gave me this kerosene Coleman today. It's a 6-76 date code.
The story:
His family owns several properties spread over the L.A. area, and he was visiting one of them last week. Out near the street, under some thick rose bushes, he found this and remembered that I use them.
The rental property was between tenants, no one was living there, so he could reasonably assume that it was discarded, possibly by a homeless.
It was pretty dirty, had no mantle, and I discovered the last fuel filled was gasoline. Given the amount of soot, it may not have performed its intended function very well when last used. Given no mantle, it may not have done anything at all besides becoming a fire hazard. It pumps, checks, and holds just fine.
It cleaned up surprising easy and quickly, has very little rust (even on the bottom of the font), and the paint and enameling is almost flawless.
The gasoline has been dumped, it's now flushed, and is only waiting a fresh fill of kero and a new mantle.
I am not going to dig into it deeper until after I test light it. If the generator and pricker are good, that's as far as I'm digging before putting it into service.
Pop
Up and running Pop? Did the 21A mantles work? Some prefer a bigger 99 mantle. Anymore I’m using Pearless 24A on everything.
No, my first attempt at light-up showed a huge imbalance in the fuel/air ratio.
I temporarily set the project aside, as we've been traveling. We've been up to Oregon and Idaho, and arrived home just last evening.
After moving back into the house, tending my grapes and tomatoes, and (especially) replacing the blower motor in the A/C in the truck, I will get back to this project.
It's so pretty after a good cleaning, I can't resist getting back to it and getting it right!
It sure was fun running down the eastern Sierras yesterday with the windows in the truck open! Marge was not amused, but didn't grumble. The dogs drank LOTS of water!
After moving back into the house, tending my grapes and tomatoes, and (especially) replacing the blower motor in the A/C in the truck, I will get back to this project.
Pop
when you tear into that project marv make sure you check the blower motor resistor and the plug that goes into it ( two screws hold it into the air box just below the blower motor and to the center of vehicle by about an inch). i had to replace both resistor and harness connector because of corrosion and open circuit causing a loss of all speeds except high. may or may not help in your situation but it dont hurt to check
