I’m hoping ‘the wise’ here can help me. I’ve got my hands on this Coleman lamp (hopefully I’ll be able to post the pictures!) It’s marked ‘US 1944’ so I assume US Army in England. Does anyone Know what model number it is, and are spares available ( especially vaporiser tube, as the jet is completely gummed up and due to the shape of the tube doesn’t appear to have a pricier needle) the hole in the jet appears to be smaller, as I can’t make any inroads into it with a needle from an old 295 pricker. I’m also loath to try the heat and quench method I’ve used with Tilley and Bialaddin as I’m nervous of the possibility of asbestos. Any advise, I’d be grateful for. Many Thanks David
It's a Milspec 252 and the first link below shows the relevant gallery page and the second link shows the 3 relevant pages on the Old Coleman Parts website. The vapouriser/generator is made from aluminium and they crack easily, that lantern runs on petrol and they have to be started with low pressure. Do let us know how you get on. Milspec Lamps https://www.oldcolemanparts.com/search.php?mode=search&page=1&keep_https=yes
That is referred to as a 252 Mil spec. The vaporisers ( generator in Coleman language) are available from Old Coleman parts. Unless you crush the asbestos into powder and snuff it for 5 years you won't die. The jet can be removed and there is no pricker wire. Just remember the vaporiser is aluminum and does not take kindly to a long preheat....I know from experience.
Brilliant Thanks for the info. I think I’ll see if I can unclog the generator before I try to justify the postage from the US! Is there a lining to the generator or is it just a tube of aluminium?
The generator is packed with heatproof material. Don't try to heat and quench it because it'll simply melt...
No idea - I just bought a new one from the Amish community. I can't remember the exact details but it was something like Ronks Road and the seller was Lilian Esh. Someone else will have the missing information, no doubt. It arrived on the morning I was going to the Newark Meet so I took it down with the lantern and fitted it there. The lantern gave out a measured 5-6cp! - there's a pic on here, somewhere. I later found out the generator had been supplied with a blocked jet. The lantern ran fine after I cleared it...
It's a 252a, the parts well makes it an A, the 252 had a plain fount. It is essentially a Coleman 220 with an Aladdin burner conversion. In WWII the US army bought 2-mantle lanterns from whomever made them, then they put out a military specification (mil-spec) for a lantern. Aladdin developed a burner/generator assembly that would burn the same gasoline as used in military vehicles and could be fitted to other makers founts. The big companies, Coleman, AGM made lanterns and used the Aladdin burner. Coleman called the early models 252. The later mil-spec called for the spare parts well and that became the 252a. Post war models used a four-panel globe, commonly called the quad globe. It used some channels that clipped onto the standard burner frame to hold the separate panels. In general there referred to as mil-spec lanterns. As stated above, start with low pressure, 5-10 pumps. Because of the burner design they are noticeably noisier than the comparable 2-burner lantern. They were made by several different contractors and used by the US Army well into the 1980s
@Greencricketer I love these MilSpec 252As. I would suggest that you access the old Coleman parts site, on this link: https://www.oldcolemanparts.com/home.php for any parts in particular, I would suggest a new generator. When running, and they are a little different to get firing, these beasties roar ... Enjoy Cheers Pete
Many thanks for all the advice and information. I'm going to attempt to completely disassemble it and soak everything in break/clutch cleaner (the Holts brand that I use to run these lanterns) hopefully that will loosen/dissolve any clogging. I'm going to try and clear the jet (that seems to be brass, so will take a heat/quench). put it back together and see what happens! If that fails, it's America for a new generator! If I succeed, I'll post! If I don't..... look for a large fireball in East London! Many regards David
Before you soak "everything" in brake and clutch cleaner (generally not a good idea - if it ain't clogged, there's no reason to unclog it!) why don't you try using the pricker tool which should be in the spares caddy on the tank? If it's missing, try using a pricker wire from one of your other lanterns. I'd unscrew the nipple from the generator and try gently pushing the pricker wire into the jet from the 'outside' in...
Thanks David I have already tried with an old pricker (there are no tools in the ‘tool niche’) nothing doing. which is why I was going to try soaking it, to see if I could soften it up.
Many thanks everyone for the sage advice on my Coleman MILSPEC 252A. I spent the afternoon stripping it down. Soaked the generator tip in naphtha for a couple of hours and cleared it out. Checked air went through every thing, put it back together, added a mantle, put 5, 10, 15, 20 pumps in - nothing! Stripped it all down again, checked everything, put it back together, could hear air going through, but nothing! Was about to strip it again, when I had a eureka moment - aren’t you supposed to put fuel in these to make them work!!! Now burning away and making a great deal of noise! Not sure it’s at its best, and I might buy a new generator, but, it’s going!
Well done. The Mil Specs are noisy lanterns, they're also not the brightest but if the image is anything to go by, perhaps it would perform better with a new generator.
