From a collector friend I got this lantern. One of the previous owners has tinkered with it badly. The intake pipe I have made from a Petromax Rapid preheater new. All small air holes cleaned again and the graphite packings renewed. The fuel cap also had to be re-soldered. Now it lights up again. In what period was this lantern made? Pump valve:
You can easily see the nasty traces of rough pliers. The intake pipe is more glued than soldered. Now the lantern has nothing to worry about and it shines pleasantly quietly, fortunately the rest of the lamp is in good condition. The missing plate on the handwheel and the eyelet on the hat may be found someday....
Hi Leo, could be mid 1930's at a guess. Nice to see it with a decent mica globe. Some PW lanterns (not yours) have a weak spot in that the weight of the lantern when hanging is concentrated at a point where the air tube screws into the burner mixing chamber, and the thin gauge of brass eventually cracks and splits. I've seen them fettled with the air tube brazed into the burner casting, but it's actually an easier fix to get a heavier gauge of half-inch diameter brass tube and die cut the ends with a new thread. I'm not exactly sure why, but Prentiss Waber are among my favourite lanterns. Regards - Alan
I didn't really have the Prentiss-Wabers lanterns on my radar, but I'm pleasantly surprised by the construction and especially the slightly different design than the other manufacturer's lanterns (Coleman). Now if this lantern is indeed from the 1930s or 40s, it has held up well.
@leo I hope you kept the old pickup. It wasn't broken, it is supposed to be two pieces. The smaller upper piece has an orifice in it to limit fuel pickup. See this thread I made a while back on the CCF site Aladdin PL-1,Preway L-13 and Coleman 220 comparison - The Coleman Collectors Forum The two pieces of the pickup should screw together. You were very lucky, that double bevel on the end of the valve stem is frequently rusted and a source of problems. I am a big fan of PW lanterns. Solid, well made. That valve stem is the one weakness, since both sides function as a seal. I have one early valve with a brass stem, which avoids the rust problem. I suspect the thin brass stem was subject to torque failure so they changed to steel. Fortunately a machinist on the CCF site makes very nice replacement stems.
Nice lamp, the number L43PB should suggest that is from 1943 IMO... Aha, OK Ive checked again and its just number of model...
@Reese Williams Hello Reese, I have read through the thread in CPF and have also seen the air hole in the small nozzle. Your post there was very informative and helpful in repairing the lantern. The lantern starts very well and to assist I have installed one of my preheat cups. Last night it lit for many hours during our barbecue. Prentiss-Wabers L43PB
@leo Are you running kerosene? PWs are normally a CF lantern and instant light as well. The preheat cup leads me to believe you've converted to kero?
No kerosene, I’m using CF. Some lanterns are starting better with a little help of preheating them with spirit.
