I have just received this Coleman table lamp which has been repainted at some stage so any info on the fount bottom is now completely obscured as is the date on the side (I can just make out traces of the Coleman logo). The lamp closely resembles a 169K but there is no pre-heater cup and no dimples in the upper air tube which suggests a CF burner (329BC is also similar and uses CF with no built in pump). There is a number 5 embossed on the burner head and there is no patent stamping on the air tube or markings on the handle. Yes I know the screw holding the burner head is not on the usual side, I tried twisting it round for the sake of authenticity but it would mean over-tightening it so will leave it where it is. Any help with the actual model and approx. date would be most appreciated.
I can't help with the model number but I restored one almost identical to yours. Mine was in a dreadful state when I got it and it's still tot finished yet but the paint job is very like yours. Is it possible it's simply a 169K with a missing pre-heater cup?
Thanks for that ColinG, I am coming to the same conclusion this sure looks like a 169K sans a pre-heater cup. A fellow collector said "Frankie" because he had not seen a square valve block on the large fount Canadian lamps. I have now seen 2x 169K (large fount) with the square valve block so there goes that theory. I have 3x Kero Canadians (2x158, 1x159) dating from 1947 onwards and all of them have the square valve block but I noticed most of the CF lanterns of this era have the hex shape valve block which adds to me leaning towards 169K. I am just soaking the fount at the moment and will fill and give it a shot with Kero, having fitted a spare pre-heater cup, and then I will know. I know that CF burners will run kero but having done that I can say that they are hard to start and when going don't run very well.
I must say, having done the same type of faded paint job, it's not straightforward at all! I made 3 wooden masking panels so the graded fades were equal and straight. The tank was rotated on a cake stand as well! The handle was put in a drill and rotated slowly while I sprayed the fades on that... THEN everything was given a coat of fuel proof lacquer! It was labour of love but now I'm missing a generator. I have 2, but both need serious work that will have to wait till the summer. Can't wait to see yours when it's finished!
That sounds like a lot of TLC. I hope you can get your one running nicely. I will put up a photo of my one when running (probably in the next few days)
OK cleaned out the fount (rattled round some nuts and bolts with white vinegar 2x, hot water and Simple Green 4x, remove nuts and bolts, plain hot water 6x) and after all that; the water running out was clear. Fitted a pre-heater cup and filled with Kero, it did run alright initially but noticed flame halos around the mantles. It also had a tendency to stain the mantle and run yellowish. So emptied out the Kero and filled with Coleman Fuel and gave it a run which went extremely well. So I have determined that what I have is a 169K that has had a CF fuel conversion done. So sort of like a Frankie after all. I have an identical burner from a actual Kero Coleman so am in a quandary whether to swap over the burners or not?. .
David, it looks good and works nicely Are you sure there is no sign of a stamping on the side of the fount, the few 169k's in the reference gallery are all stamped on the side of the fount with the Coleman logo?
This fount has been painted and lacquered and now the fount has the slightest trace of the original Coleman logo on the side but the date stamping has been filled with paint and is now completely hidden. This is nearly identical to a 169K but definitely is set up to run CF. From what I can tell Coleman Canada made a model 329B (the B standing for brass as in the fount) during the WWII period. The 329 seems to be the same as a 169K except it has no preheater cup and is a CF fuel set up. I am wondering if this is an elusive Canadian 329B Table lamp as at this stage I really am only guessing. I obtained 7x lanterns from the estate of a fellow collector and all the rest of the lamps were authentic and true to the model number, this is only one with any doubt.
Regardless of the exact authenticity, it's a beautiful looking lamp! With a glass shade that'll look stunning! If you end up with a kero or CF generator spare, I'd definitely be interested as that would hopefully get mine working... This is where I've got to so far. It's technically a Frankie - the tank and stem/handle are Nagel Chase while the burner assembly is Coleman. Apparently this 'conversion' was quite common because the NC burners were a bit tricky to use or repair... something like that. All it's missing is a generator hence my question.
That's a very nice paint job. Congrats on a beautiful restoration. Unfortunately I don't have a spare genny as I was fortunate in that the lamps I have all had good working generators. I believe that the R55 Roto generators will work with either CF or Kero and I have seen these frequently on ebay. If you can get a NOS one from ebay UK it is more likely that the freight will be reasonable (unlike ebay USA where they charge like wounded bulls for the freight). These ones are available from USA but the freight is not as bad as usual. ONE (1) BRAND NEW COLEMAN ROTO TYPE GENERATOR R55 FOR COLEMAN LANTERNS & LAMPS | eBay
I've checked my Coleman 169k and it says 9 - 35 under the logo... so that makes it Sept 1935 I guess. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a Genny when funds permit!
