Hi Team, After having a small but good collection of Coleman lanterns, I have of late started collecting a few Handi Lights. Being a Brisbane boy myself it seemed only fitting to support our own home grown and local brand of light. I have 3 so far (see photos,) the all brass one I have not seen one before and one of the nickel ones have what seems to be a small brass tab with Q↑R on it see photo. Also I was wondering how the hell to get the pump vale out of the Handi's? as not ever fettled one of these I don’t want to fu*k it up, so any help or advise would be great. And also where can one purchase pump washers as mine are had it ? Any way hope you like the photos and can offer some advice on the pump washers and removal of the pump valve
You need a special tool for that valve, or you can make one from a steel bolt that fits snugly in the pump tube. Cut a 5mm slot 5mm deep in the bottom of the bolt. Then unscrew the NRV anti-clockwise while applying downward pressure so the extractor does not rise up and round off the NRV. Don’t lose the NRV! They are a special thread, size and shape. Vic Tipman is a Queenslander. He may have the washers etc you need. Or try TW Sands. Tony
A nice selection of Handis you have there. The brass one is the oldest and probably from the early 50s. The other two are from the 60s or 70s. The QR one is obviously a Queensland Rail lamp. I don't know when they used these, but I have never seen any that are earlier than the one you show. They turn up now and again, but are not that common. There's a collector on here from Toowoomba that could probably lend a hand. Send a message to @AussiePete
Thanks Nils I will track him down and I notice the brass one the pump assembly is at a different angle to the nickel ones
The different angle of the pump could be as simple as the pump tube being knocked in a bit. There was no real difference in the design of the tank from the last of the SwiftLites to the end of the KeroPet line.
