A fellow collector was on a trip earlier this month at a lamp meeting and asked if anyone needed anything; of course I said anything not US built or Tilley/Vapalux mantles. He found this box of mantles. There weren’t any mantles that I needed but did you see my new lamp? New seals and she fired right up, the brass tag is dated 2005. I find it odd that the glass is squared on the end; probably a military cost cutting exercise.
That's a nice find John. The square ended glass wasn't confined to the military 320s, by that time I don't think there was much civilian demand but someone somewhere finally realised that cutting slices off a (bought in) long tube was much more cost effective than moulding individual shaped glass.
Thank you Henry; I guess I’ve just become accustomed to the extended cylinders. The valve assembly was contacting the cage when I was trying to remove it; I ended up removing the valve, nut, plate and cage almost as a complete unit. I’ve never been more careful of a painted surface in my life. I am wondering in hindsight if maybe just removing the control knob would give the valve access to turn without contact.
Good bit of military history too. The replacement square end glass I got for my Willis and Bates MOD "M1" is much thicker as well.
Oh no, @george and @74Harley; that box of mantles belongs to Warren. I had my friend looking for Tilley mantles and spotted the Vapalux when he sent me this picture.
That box of mantles would’ve come home with me........Unfortunately there just isn’t a source ( that I’m aware of ) for quality mantles anymore....... All of these Peerless are from the Philippines.........before India production. These are definitely getting hard to find and worth grabbing when possible.......
@BigStevie It seems like nothing that interest me is ever common here; it’s usually as much for freight as it is the lamps. I never would have thought that a lamp as robust as this one was still being produced in 2005.
@John These M320 are still dribbling out of the UK military stores, turning up in surplus auctions, though not in the quantities that were being disposed of some years ago. Have a look at MOD Sales Online - Military Vehicles and ex MOD Land Rovers for sale they turn up here occasionally.
I have found the best mantles for Tilley and Vapalux are vintage 500cp Petromax mantles. I just cut the bottom off and use the string to tie the mantle on. It actually burns down to 300cp and is MUCH brighter than any of the Tilley/Vapalux mantles I have used.
I remember when I was a kid going into “Sunny’s Surplus Store” and picking over the surplus WWII stuff. You could buy a Coleman 252 military lantern for around $8-10, in NOS condition! Try buying one for that now!
That's a beautiful picture of the perfect mantles. I regret not buying quality Thorium mantles when they were plentiful on ebay just a few short years ago, should of bought them by the hundreds.
@Hanzo You can get thorium mantles here, TILLEY LAMP MANTLES PRESSURE LAMP MANTLES VAPALUX LAMP SPARE PARTS SERVICE KIT | eBay and they are excellent! They are the best I have found lately.....
