Thanks a lot Larry, now I can compare my (undated) 327 against the ones in your post to determine its age. I do have a question about the generators. On my 327 and my (both undated) wall (bracket?) and table lamp I found both the straight (77?) and piggy tail (99?) generators, not the R55 (with cleaning needle). Can you put any dates/years of usage on those? Thanks! All the best, Wim @coleman54
////////////::::::::.......... Hi Wim, US lanterns : Q99 coil was standard equipped new on all 327 from the beginning 1916 to their ending, last known date stamped 6/7 July 1936 (image shown above). The Q77 straight came about from the performance failure of the T88 straight (with internal pricker), both were standard new equipment on the introduced 220/228 slant in 1928. Q77 was also an advertised economical substitute for Q99 targeted to extended service users requiring frequent generator changes from carbon build up. The R55 with internal pricker and a control mechanism showed up about late 1929 as an upgrade on instant lite 220/228 (some generator boxes state from a 1923 design) ? R55 became advertised new standard equipment starting in about 1937 on US L427, while it had already been the standard new on Toronto 427K (kerosene) since 1935, kerosene required frequent tip cleaning while in operation. Larry @Wim
Mica Globes : QL dimensions began 5”X5” same as torch lite 323, with a wide integrated reflector and swinging match lite door, tabs were altered to the bottom of vent to secure mica when operating the door. After an official Coleman number change September 1918 QL became LQ , “Both” 323 torch lite and now LQ mica dimensions changed to 5 1/4” H X 5”, eliminating the need for tabs on vent, the LQ reflector was now taller and narrower, the change was gradual. In late 1924 LQ mica changed again to a sliding up and down window. Larry
Thank you, for all the very nice comments. @Tony Press @george @Wim @BigStevie @AussiePete @Alex Smith Larry
View attachment 130189 ///////::::::::……… Just so happens I haven’t acquired one of the 23,453 + of the L327 shipped that particular year of production. They are not uncommon, the majority of them have the factory restamped/repurposed slant 220/228 frame as the 1929 L427 also in my collection. .
////////::::::::………. 327 mica with slide up and down window was standard for L327/L427 lanterns in this era.
/////////:::::::::……….. There were two mica versions in this era both with the slide up and down window, both with the same dimensions of 5 1/4” height. They both fit Quick-Lite and Instant-Lite lanterns. Only difference was the number (size) of mica pieces used. The advtisement below shows the appropriate application of which was standard equipment on 327/427 Quick-Lite and 220/228 Instant-Lite lantern type.
@My29cq329 Mica was available at least into the 1940s or later. The first Pyrex globes were advertised as an option in later 1932 and were listed as standard equipment on the 220B/228B in 1933, the L327 continued to have mica as standard equipment through 1940, while the L427 began to get Pyrex in late 1936. Coleman dealers had a policy offered at time of purchase exchanges of standard globe on lamps to optional Globe at the added cost above the original globe at time of purchase.
////////////:::::::::::………… @My29cq329 , I apologize for my error about the statement Pyrex becoming standard equipment on L427 in late 1936, They continued with “mica” through 1940. The actual change of standard equipment in late 1936 was the generator to the R55. . Larry
