Aladdin industries Australia imported lanterns manufactured by Radius in Sweden under the Aladdin Brand from the early 1930’s until imports were stopped in the early part of WW11. Here is my recently acquired Aladdin 12A. 1934-1937. The date of manufacture is based on the following Radius characteristics: 1. This lantern has the pressure relief valve filler cap introduced in 1934 2. This lantern does not have the Fuel gauge for the fuel level patented in 1937. As you will see in the photos, the lantern has been well used and a lot of the nickel plating has gone. The cap showed significant corrosion as many lanterns around here do. The lantern required new seals including the pressure relief valve filler cap. I replaced the inner seal with viton (26mm dia x1mm) with a hole pattern resembling the original one. The new seal is flat (not concave like the original) A good discussion on the pressure relief valve filler cap seal is available on CCS Link The collar was cracked and needed soldering. The pump is not original. The lantern came with an Aladdin A1 pump which is too long and the cap thread did not match the thread on the pump tube. I replace it with an appropriate nickel plated spare. As received Components The globe is marked Jmports. No other markings. I couldn’t find much information on the globe but a post by Northern Lights provides some information regarding the date of manufacture.
Very nice presentation, Martin. If we assume all parts should be on par with Radius, the period you put it in is correct. Perhaps except for the top ball nut. I think that version seen on your lantern, with the hole through it, was used on pre-1934 lanterns.
Fantastic presentation Martin! Perfect for reference. I agree that details correspond to the time period 1934-37 including the top nut with the hole, gas mixer etc. The 3 similar 119s I have are the same. The 1934 1st version I have has Mickey Mouse ears on the same type of tanklid as yours (when it was first introduced). Unfortunately I dont have the 1937 lantern catalogue. The 119 glass however is usually an Indifferent glass made in Germany which overlaps into the next version. Then its also SIBOR and Jeanaer Suprax. I have 5 examples where 3 are just marked "Import" (WWII) and 2 that are marked "Jmport" in the exact same way as yours. Since one is untouched NOS, I know its after 1937. The "Jmport" glass may have been delivered to Australia just before WWII. (Just speculation). Are there more Australian examples marked "Jmport"? It does seem like the tanklid is without any markings on the top. Some of the parts I have are unmarked in the same way as well.
Nice find Martin and some good photos. It looks like the Radius features can be found on the Aladdin, but so far I have never seen a level gauge on an Aladdin 12A or 14A. The dating might also be a year out as it took time for the lamps to reach Australia.
Thanks for all the positive comments and additional information Christer, you are correct. I did make the assumption that the lantern was a rebranded Radius. Northern Light, Are there more Australian examples marked "Jmport"? I don’t know a lot about the pre WW11 lanterns. So I’m not sure if there are many examples or not. Others may know of more examples. From what I have read the date Aladdin stopped importing lanterns and started manufacturing is rather sketchy. IMO we can assume the import of lanterns did not stop suddenly and some shipments were arriving. There was most probably a period where no lanterns were arriving and it would have taken some time to tool up for manufacturing in Australia. So the globe may well have arrived in Australia 1939-41 and did not come with this lantern. (as we know too well glass breaks and gets replaced) Matty in a previous post has referred to an advertisement that could have been announcing the Australian made A1 lantern but the add it is not specific. Nils, you are correct. It could have taken a year to manufacture, ship and distribute Swedish made lanterns. It is also possible there were overlaps where old stock was used up before new changes were implemented (especially when the stock was being shipped to the other side of the world). Under the circumstances I’m happy
