A friend of mine who knows I'm in to classic stoves and pressure lamps just e-mailed me these pictures. I don't know what make this lamp is. But to be shure I allready bought it (it has great looks) for €20,-. Can anyone here tell me a bit more about this lamp?
@Bram van Houten welcome from Queensland Australia. The lamp you’re looking at is an American forces 252 MilSpec lantern. They are designed to run on gasoline. Coleman, AGM, Armstrong and more companies built these lanterns to a specification. They can be cantankerous to light and when running properly, they roar. There is quite a following with lampies very proud of their MilSpecs. I have a a Coleman built 1969 252 MilSpec that I love to light and let roar whilst having a cup a coffee. By the way, you got an absolute bargain. Yours looks to be a later model in good condition and it has the quad glass panels, that is, the Globe is made up of 4 thick glass panels that slide into frames. Enjoy your 252 MilSpec. Cheers Pete
Yes it's a US Milspec lantern. It is not correct to call these 252 Milspecs. They are only model 252 if made by Coleman. None of the other manufacturers gave it a model number. There will be stampings in the base which will tell you date and manufacturer. Incidentally a 1969 Coleman Milspec is Coleman model 252A not 252. They changed the model number in 1952 when the Quad globe was introduced. The manufacturers were:- Akron American Gas Machine Armstrong Products Auto-Fab Coleman (252 and 252A) Form-Tech Mantle Lamp Co. (Aladdin.) Didn't make complete lamps but made conversion kits. State Machine Products Thermos ::Neil::
Yes, nice lucrative government contract. Not bad but can be a bitch to light. I have three, 252 (1945), 252A (1952), and Armstrong (1960s). Out of the three the 1945 Coleman is easiest to light! Still nice to have!
@Mackburner Thanks for the information regarding the MilSpec. @george they certainly can be a bitch to light. But I do like my 252A, and I like the roar when she runs. Cheers Pete
Thanks for all the information on the lamp. I've asked my friend to look for a date stamp on the underside of the lamp. Would be nice if it is a 40'/45' lamp. Would make a nice set with the Aladdin M-1942 from 1944 that I've bought in France this summer. @M.Meijer He works in a thriftshop and keeps me up to date on camera's, stoves, lamps and other things that I collect. But this is the first time a pressure lamp comes by ;-)
A thriftshop? Camera's, stoves, lamps and other things? Oh my, oh boy, wrong place for me! Because I really am in the process of uncluttering, no, drasticly diminishing my collections of all the above. To balance that, I do allow myself to focus on just the Willis & Bates products (and some Tilley's) with discipline and restraint! Hug your friend(s) Bram!
@M.Meijer "Because I really am in the process of uncluttering, no, drasticly diminishing my collections of all the above." Oelala, What are you getting rid of then? "Hug your friend(s) Bram!" I do and will continue to do so! ;-)
Canon rangefinder, Rolleiflex 6×6 and Nikon (non-)digi stuff, about 70 stoves still and at least 10 lamps. I am almost there with the motorcycles. All this with a normal life expectancy, I just like to explore new venues.
@M.Meijer I guess my girlfriend and friends would say that you are my "voorland". ;-) I Might have a buyer for your non-digital Nikon stuff. I'f you want to sell let me know what is leaving the collection :-) Do you live in the Northern part of the Netherlands? Love to come by and see the stoves and other interesting things!
Mil-specs,,, mine, (a 1958 252, and 1965 252A) are an absolute trial,,, I’ve never had the patience to actually get one running. 3 pumps, they won’t light, 4 pumps, they are completely flames out the chimney flooded... I get them down on occasion, just to refresh my repertoire of colorful metaphors, then wipe them down, and put them away for a few months. Cool old lanterns though,,, one cost me a sawbuck, one a gift from Daughter #4...
My 252A is a bitch to light, it needs tender loving care one day and choice naughty words the next. But when it’s running, I just love it’s roar! Cheers Pete
