Been dancing around the garden tonight, with a noisy disco, to celebrate a successful fettle - tho it is a bit chilly for it this evening! Picked up a US Mil Spec 1977 early autumn last year and finally have her running. Generally in good condition (no dents, dings, parts missing or any major damage) most of the effort has been removing rust from the frame and burner assembly and learning about this type of lantern. Fettle notes. New filler cap seal, and new generator was added initially, however the generator seat top thread was in poor condition - preventing a pressure proof seal formed by the generator, generator nut and the seat. Unfortunately, although I'd spotted that the thread wasn't in the best condition during the strip down, I'd not appreciated that the generator nut would not seal the generator on. On first attempt of lighting the joint was leaking, necessitating another strip down. Having seen the leak at the union, and spotted the cause, a replacement generator seat was successfully fitted, resembled and she fired up. As purchased: First light up: Glass and hood installed, running well after an hour: These seem to come with a "certain reputation" of being difficult to light, but having sort advice from the hallowed pages of CPL, 4 pumps did it and off she went. By no stretch the brightest or quietest lantern I've fettled, she has a certain charm (I like military lanterns). Very pleased to have her cleaned up and in the collection.
Well done @Alex Smith These are very nearly my third best lanterns. I do like the roar of their burner. You have done an excellent job on the fettle. There are some of these that are real buggers to light, mine is a little finicky, but not too bad. Enjoy. Cheers Pete
Day light follow up photos: Lantern complete with funnel, two mantles, tool and generator pricker in wax paper marked 1976, Mil Spec paper. Stripped thread at the top of the generator seat that prevented the generator sealing, thus the lantern functioning on re-assembley: Base of fount, marked "US", "ARMSTRONG PRODUCTS", "CO", 1977
You have a very nice Milspec @Alex Smith. If needs be, you can buy a replacement generator seat from Old Coleman Parts in the USA. I have purchased quite a bit from Mike and he's been excellent to deal with. Here is a link to a replacement part Generator Seat Cheers Pete
Pete, thank you for the link, appreciated. I'll get one ordered to replace the one I took from my 1980 SMP Mil Spec that is sat in the fettle que.
They can be a real devil to light - at times! I too, have an Armstrong, and a Coleman 252 from the Korean war dated 1952, and a really nice 252 from WWII dated 1945. I will have to check the date on my Armstrong but I believe 1970's. Armstrong Products must have won the contract during that period from the US government for production of the lantern.
@AussiePete Thank you, 8 days for a new nice and shiny generator seat to wing its way across the Atlantic from Old Coleman Parts - very pleased, good service. Here is the new one. It will go on my 1980 SMP Milspec to finish the fettle over the weekend.
