Vapalux 1974 date

Hi just received a will and Bates lantern. In sure of date and colour of font. Seems like as army khaki colour. Any advice.
Cheers

 

If you look just above the date you see a "V" shaped marking. That's what I think is what is called a "crow's foot", so it's probably a military lantern.

 

Yes, George, absolutely correct - the crows foot marking \l/ denotes a British military item. These lanterns are sometimes referred to as a 21C but this (and the 129-6558) are, apparently, the military reference numbers for something like, in Army-speak, 'Lantern, Paraffin, Pressure, Officers and Men, for the use of...'

In a similar way, the correct military designation for what we call the Tilley 'Hospital' Lamp (I.e. the SL-type outdoor wall lamp) is 'Lamp, Paraffin, Pressure, Hospital and Survey...

 

Gotcha!

 

Yup, what you have there is a nice example of an exMOD Vapalux M1 lantern. A nice user lamp- I've got a 1976 one myself and it's pretty much bombproof

 

Thanks for that guys sounds like a picked up a Barr in then. Any idea on the colour seems unusual as I've not seen one in an olive khaki. Any idea on a colour match.

 

I can't make out why they stamped the broad arrow upside down. It is usually /|\

 

Over on this side of the pond most US military stuff is olive drab in color. I think, for the most part that's true for UK MOD stuff, too. These are a fine lantern, dependable and well made.

 

I've seen these in olive green and also Matt green .it seems that anything that went into the British army workshops for servicing came out with a fresh coat of Matt green paint, the same colour as all the vehicles.
Regards ian

 

The Australian army issued lamps, for example Austramax lanterns, are marked D↑D (Department of Defence).