Hey guys, first post here. I've recently managed to get a no letter 243 which I'm pretty stoaked about. My question is related to the date stamps on lanterns. Is the year always on the right? Youll notice that in the photo my lantern is stamped 6 on the left and 2 on the right. My understanding the 243 was only made for a year or two around 1936? However it seems the year is usually on the right when I look at other lanterns. Thanks for any information you guys can offer on the 243!!
@Chrismac In the early days, it was year on the left month on the right. The anomaly with your lantern is by the 1930s, there should be a two digit number for the year.
Thanks for your info guys I appreciate it! It's officially a Feb 1936. Next question, Has anyone here taken the check valve out of a 243 before? Its got the old European style pump, not sure if the valve is the same or not. I'm currently waiting on a coleman check valve removal tool however I'm not sure if it'll fit given the different pump design normally used on colemans. The pump leather is also different. Its a leather cup crimped between a brass a steel disc, similar to what I've seen in old kerosene blowtorches. Thanks for any information you guys have!
Thanks for the information guys. I'll post some more pictures in case anyones interested. Pretty unique little lantern design. There's also no tube at the end of the check valve to go up to the air reservoir which is another unusual coleman design, and another reason why it's no where near as safe as the normal coleman design. Especially on mine until I can fix the valve given it spits fuel out under pressure. I'll be sure to include all my findings once I've finished fettling to help the next person that comes across one of these.
i will update my removal of the checkvalve to use an adjustable wrench on the checkvalve tool as it makes it way easier.
Hello Chrismac. Great post and photos. I have a 243 no letter as well but my pump was replaced already when I got it. Do you plan on keeping your original European style pump? If you want to part with it please let me know. I would like to have an original pump for mine. Thanks! -Donnie
Donnie there were a few decent repro pinned pumps offered on Facebook recently. Those pumps are probably one of the more sought after Coleman parts in existence.
