Basically, mine has everything that makes it an E41, except for the pressure gauge which was replaced by a pressure tit when production of the 300 started. That's why I'm asking, I think mine's a "late" kind of transition model E41.
The pressure gauge - as well as other (costly) things - disappeared between the 1st and 2nd E41s. The story goes that W&B submitted samples of the 1st type, with all the bells and whistles, to the army for inspection and, hopefully, acceptance. The army were duly impressed by the lantern, but not at the complexity and cost, so the bits we all like were removed, hence the simpler and cheaper 2nd type of E41. I've heard these referred to as 'pre-acceptance' and 'post-acceptance'. I must read Ian's book and see what, if anything, he makes of that story but IIRC, I don't think he was a fan. However, there must have been some explanation for the change and since the army were W&B's only customer at the time, it's hard to imagine they weren't involved somewhere in the decision...
Having taken my lamp apart it appears that the original fount colour was black and the cage perhaps gold. Does this make any sense, or has its true originality been lost in time, paint and use? The finish is so far gone that I think it needs a full restoration, if only to preserve it. As much as I like originality, preservation has to come first I guess.
I think those colours were applied in the 70's by a private owner, when that colour combo became popular on two- and four-wheeled racing vehicles sponsored by John Player, like Norton and Lotus. How did you fare with preserving this lamp? Mike
