Unusual Handi

Hi fellas, I have an unusual Handi for you to consider, first a little background, a friend of mine was cleaning out his shed years ago and he gave me a Coleman Oz 249 and this Handi, when I got to looking at it I noticed it had a generator like an Austramax, when I stripped it down I noticed that the whole fuel vale body was a little different but with a Handi pricker assembly and fuel shut off knob; It is not a frankie, this is a factory produced fuel body valve, on one side of the fuel valve body it has stamped D arrow pointing up D.

On the side of the tank it has engraved MRC L540, I have had it running on kero, but not very bright, the other day I noticed engraved under the filler cap, USE ONLY SHELLITE, I had not noticed that before under the silver paint.

A few years ago I was speaking with the Gransson of the 1930ies Handi works founder who was Mr Huges, his Grandson came up and visited me to see my Handi Lanterns and this particular one, he had no explanation for it but agreed it was factory produced, has anyone came across one of these?

 

That’s a very interesting lantern, @outback boy.

I’ll do some digging around and see if I can sort out what military significance “MRC L540” might have.


Cheers

Tony

 

A lucky find.

 

@outback boy That's a very interesting Handi you have Frank. The only one I have ever seen. Very interesting with the stamping on the tank.

Judging by the other parts, it should have been made between 1949 and 1953. Does it look like there was ever nickel plating under the silver paint? The marks on the tank look like they have been engraved or etched rather than stamped. What do you think?

 

A interesting lantern with a story to tell. Perhaps a special production run done for the Army could be a probable explanation.

So many things happened in the past and now long forgotten.

 

Hi fellas, Nils i have never seen another like it, the tank looks to have been professionally engraved because it so neat, it does not look like it has had plating but that does not mean it was not plated at some point, you may be right Walkop, a special run, maybe by Austramax? the generator looks identical to Austramax and the stamping on the fuel valve, D ARROW FACING UP D reminds me of the defense force stamping on the collar of some Austramax, now that i have uncovered on the tank use shellite only i will have to pressure test it and try it with shellite