A decent example of an early 1930's AGM 304. The lantern cleaned up nicely and worked splendidly right out of the chute. The instant light feature works well. After the mantles light, the control valve must be locked 100% open. Even the slightest crack towards the close position will result in a carburated mixture. Like a lot: The original mica globe with the mica door Nickel plated Steel tank - won't stress crack Common R55 compatible generator Big fill hole with no internal neck for easy 100% drain The neat figure eight curved handle And most of all, the big cobalt blue over white vent Not so much: Lack of a positive shut off. Although in practice I don't think this is such a big problem in an outdoor lantern, assuming the lantern is well maintained and the pump NRV seal is of the correct material. Positive shutoffs are of course the best and safest system. Peeling nickel. The finish on this lamp is very thick nickel over copper over steel. It's peeling in places, and I'm not sure how to arrest it. The cage was claimed to be cadmium plated for corrosion resistance. The L510 generator is an easy one to renew. A word of warning however... the nut which screws onto the bottom of the pricker control barrel has left hand threads. I almost stripped it trying to remove it. A most unusual configuration, as all other threads on the generator and lantern are the standard right hand. As this lantern will be a user, I saved off the renewed generator and fitted a new R55. Everything held air pressure and tested fine with the renewed generator. After fitting the new R55 and filling the tank, I spun the R55 cleaning lever and left it the down position. Pumped up the tank and opened the valve a 1/4 turn. Nothing. Opened the valve more, still no fuel flow. This had me baffled for a bit as everything had worked fine during air only testing with the original generator. Turns out that somewhere along the line, Coleman changed the direction of the cleaning lever on the R55 to point up for the open position. Either that or I have an incorrectly made generator. Once the lever was in the correct position, everything worked just fine. I do find the radical design change from the complex 287/288 lantern & 252 lamp with their tank mounted valve & F/A combo and positive lock pump, to the single pump/fill combination with a simple non-positive locking euro style pump interesting. Other companies at this time, like Nulite and Prentiss Wabers, were also fitting their lanterns with a combo pump/fill. It must have been significantly less expensive to manufacture with two holes in the tank instead of four. The fuel valve screws right into the top of the tank instead of the pig tail arrangement on the 287. Assembling this lamp must have been very quick and easy. Perhaps this manufacturing cost reduction was because the US was in the deepest depth of the Great Depression in years 1932 & 1933. People were very frugal at the time. Just a guess. Dan
Beautifull lamp Dan and welldone you found out it had a left-thread . The outdoor-photo really made me put it on my wishlist for sure Claus C
Hi Dan, Wow ! As I said previously, this is one, very 'fetching' lantern. I'd be happy enough with the way it looks, the Cobalt vent is just superb, as is that articulate collar & all of the fitments. They made these with quality to detail, it'd be a pleasure to 'get to know'. I'm just sorry the peeling nickel couldn't be possibly covered over, patch wise; but doing a full strip & re-chrome, could have been asking for more trouble. ! It's interesting, as I'm looking at the shape of the fount, that it's the exact same shape as the J.C. Higgins single big hat, I've just completed. Will the tanks (for both) have been made by AGM, the same pattern shape, etc, do you know ? Just the same trace arc, around the shoulders, etc. If I was to eventually go for one of these more esteemed looking lanterns, then this type of look & design; would just about check all the box's for me. Although I can't really talk around some of the different aspects of the working components (no experience with these, yet), but I can see within the detail of snap 5, the needles 'fixed' eccentric, to the base of the needle (R55) replacement. The original generator, that you'd to wrestle out; has this been thrown away ? (Interesting to see the difference's, new for old) The pump/ fuel combo, is a neat 2 in one; hopefully I'll get to see one of these, next year perhaps (too much on, ATM, most thank-fully) ! he he. With me never owning a hatch mica, I'd just have slight trepidations, regarding the temperature the clearing tip lever could rise too, with the hatch being left closed for some time. Does it cool really quick, upon opening, or do you require glove protection, whilst maintaining this ? I can see it being uncomfortable, & maybe being a rushed move; avoiding a heat nip.. . . .(not good, to rush this, frettful-like). Great pictorials, loaded through, BTW; i'll be getting on with mine, shortly, I've to pressure test the BH Higg's first, before praying for another fine day. Watch out, the birds nearly in flight (though I'm not going to light it; "you'll see why, in a bit") Cheers, Jon.
Thanks for the comments guys, Yes Claus, the bright sun on the cobalt blue vent really brings out the deep color. Flash photography (in my hands anyway) just can't match the outdoors. I had it out camping several times this past summer. This one is a "user". Jon, that is the original AGM L510 generator in the pictures above, which is very similar to a Coleman R55. It was re-assembled and saved away for future reference and replaced with an R55 for current use. R55s work the same way as the L510. Good observation about the R55 cleaning lever getting hot while the lantern is running. It is indeed too hot to handle at that time, unless you use a screwdriver or some other object to spin the lever from a distance, which is why the lever has that round end. The good thing is that using Coleman fuel the lantern burns clean and does not need to have the jet pricked. I only spin the lever before, and just after lighting. Dan
Hi Dan, Righto, that generator pictured then was the older one, prior to the replacement. It looks a very well proportioned lantern, all levels highlighting one another; the bale arm's shaped like an egg timer, it's well neat. Yes, I never seem to need the cleaning tip, I give it a twizzle, ape like, because some of the guys on Youtube, tend to make a right meal of it. One fellow, you'd suspect he was rolling for bingo numbers, it's twizzled round that oft. I can see them shearing, if over done, particularly if collar is tight up, against the winch wire. I'd really like a dabble with one of these, there just doesn't appear to be too many listed. I bet it's a top day or weekend out, over in the United States, rummaging for lanterns, at bring and buy lots (car boots) ! Cor blimey, the head must be a shed ! returning choc a bloc, the car full up with more 'goodies projects'. It's a grand lamp, down as one of my "to gets". Cheers, Jon . Pictured here, are the two X246B's, now up for a shout (hopefully). They're a bit rough & tumble, but both good workers, good for night work in the garage or down the canal, doing a spot of fishing, etc. I hope they 'go', I'm out of room. . . .... . . they're a bit grotty, but not meant for posing, etc.
Dan one of the gang just gifted me with a corroded but basically straight example. May have some questions for you. I think you answered one without me even having to ask it. Or break the lantern. Thanks! Dan MacPherson
