I acquired this apparent unlit M320 off of Facebook Marketplace for a good price. It came with a sealed spirit can and two Veritas mantles (dated 1985). It's slightly different to the other two I have though and I'm trying to date it/ascertain providence etc. Pics attached. For starters, it doesn't appear to have the reflector and support ring at the base of the frame as both my others do. Also, there is no brass ID plate on top of the fixing nut - again, both my other two M320's have these features. There is no stickered instructions on the fount either, oddly. So, were there diffrent M320 specs as specified by the millitary and what date is this likely to be??? Thank you in advance. Stuart.
Hard to date these. It is typical of the later MoD contract lanterns so maybe as late as 2000. I am not sure when they stopped MoD work. ::Neil::
I'm in a bit of a quandary really. For what I paid for it (40 quid), I'm not too sure whether to light it and use it, or keep it tucked in it's box and squirrel it away. I'll definitely be keeping it whatever of course.
@Muzzleflash I have a silver one in the Reference Gallery that was sold to me as NIB surplus from the Afghanistan conflict: Vapalux M320 (NIB ex Afghanistan) Tony
@Tony Press I keep forgetting I can access the Reference Gallery - lamp looks very nice! I'll probably do similar and not light mine, though it does seem a shame equally. Torn!.. .
A very tidy example of a military 320 in original livery. Nice! I'll have a similar decision to make soon as I'm taking a delivery of an unused Solar lantern after Christmas. All my Chinese beauties work beautifully and give out ridiculous amounts of light, but what will I do with a BNIB gem?
If it came new in the box, DON'T LIGHT IT!!! I can't bring myself to light NOS lanterns. Before I really got into the hobby and grew a brain stem I would light a NOS lantern, but not anymore! I can't bring myself to do that anymore.
Hi George - It sure did come new in box. The previous 'owner' had opened the box to inspect the contents and that's it! I was a little flustered they covered the box in parcel tape to send it to me, but hey, ho, no worries. I think the consensus is don't light it then. Might stick it on the mantle piece, though that will no doubt invite the attraction of our feisty Bengal cat... @ColinG I know you're looking for one of these in good nick - I'll keep an eye out! Good luck with your new Chinese beauty..
After much consideration I have decided to light it and put it into my collection with my other working lanterns - I don't really do inanimate objects tbh! I liken it to those people who have restored a classic car to concours condition - or have a very low mileage original - and then decide to turn it into a 'trailer queen' and not drive it......not good imo!!
I liken it to those people who have an unmounted mint 1d black or 2d blue and use the rationale that since these stamps were made to send letters through the postal system it's sensible to stick them on an envelope addressed to themselves...
Lol, should I take that with a heavy pinch of salt @David Shouksmith There must be loads of unlit M320's sitting in collections..
Yes, there's no direct comparison in the value of a classic car (maybe many millions, depending on what it is), an unmounted mint 1d black (many thousands) and an unused Vapalux 320 (100 quid, or so)…
@David Shouksmith True, but the analogy still has a modicum relevance - I wasn't really drawing the analogy monetarily though. Enjoyment of something in terms of what it's meant to do would come first with me, as opposed to aesthetically displaying something and /or squirreling it away for value appreciation. So in your very valued opinion, should I light it??
Of course, doing what you say to an unused stamp of that vintage would be reckless vandalism. Driving an unused Ford Cortina from the 1960s - just a few miles a year - wouldn't imo...
Oh, it's entirely up to you - as you say, it's not a rare lantern at all and one fewer unlit example isn't going to stop the world turning. Personally, I wouldn't because I know already how a Vapalux 320 will behave and I've probably got 6-12 of them in used condition I'd light first - and probably a couple of hundred other used lanterns as well...
Why lit it when there are so many used ones to get if you want to play around with it? I should not in any case. Michael
if you love lanterns for their light, and can't stand lighting Nib/Nos lanterns, don't buy them. Leave them for a shelf display collector of unused lanterns. mine will all be bright alight. Sooner or later. regards willi
Hey never mind " DO NOT LIGHT IT " ... rubbish.. get that lamp lit as soon as... get some use out of it .. stand back and admire ... we are all here to have a good time ..not a careful time .. enjoy your time here .. hey you did not pay much for it... so if you save it .. in a box someone will benefit and profit for themseves .. I use all my lamps however costly they may be .. light and enjoy .
It's your lamp, light it if you want to. Many lamps are bought by steam puntkers / upcyclers and end up electrocuted, a far worse fate than being used as intended.
