Hello, I have recently just finished this "rust-o-leum rebuild" on this lantern as well as changing it over to electic power so it can be used as a indoor decoration. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to give me any specifics on this unit such as model and year. I have done some research but am a little confused as to the exact model number. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.
Err that is a very brave move putting an electrocuted pressure lamp on here. Just to warn you!!! I like the rest of it though best regards Matt.
For the sake of discretion I'm going to assume that the base plate was a rusted out pinholed mess and that without a doubt the lantern was unsafe to operate using the fuel it was designed for. The metal parts look like they used to be a National Stamping/Nulite and probably wouldn't be any younger than the mid 1930's. The actual model would depend on the burner arrangement that looks to be partially missing.
That used to be a Sears White Lite made by National Stamping and Electric of Chicago (Nulite) and will date from fall 1927 to Spring 1930. You have the globe cage support collar upside down on it. I really don't like to see lamps partially destroyed in this way. We are about preservation and perhaps restoration but conversion tends to be destructive to a greater or lesser degree and these are bygone artefacts bordering on antique which deserve better. It looks very nice and the finish will certainly preserve the bulk of it but from my point of view doing this to a pressure lamp reduces its value to near worthless. ::Neil::
It's not my place to speak but I'm going to anyway. I sent John a PT asking how the lantern was electrified. I find it enjoyable to de-electrify stuff and was wondering how and if it could be done. This lantern belonged to his father who passed away recently so he cleaned it up to display in his house. Right or wrong? I will not make that call but that is the rest of the story.
Well, he doesn't appear to have drilled the tank so that's something... My questions would be:- 1. Should this thread not be in the Open Forum rather than the Nulite one? - it's hardly an exemplar of this type of lantern any longer. 2. Should this be accommodated on this site at all? - it's not now, by any stretch of the imagination, either 'classic' or 'pressure'. IMHO, we don't want to be encouraging electrical contrivances here. Just wondrin' - what does the team think..?
Since the post was originally about the year and model information I feel that David is right, it should be in the Open Forum.
Hello all, First off let me apologize for posting this topic in the wrong section. I am new to the forum and figured the topic should go in the Nulite area (my mistake). The reason for the post as stated above is that I was looking for some additional information on this particular lantern and obviously this is not place to get it. My goal for this lantern was not to restore it to it's original condition as it was a complete basket case, nor to display my painting/electrical skills, but rather to make an attractive "semi working" lantern that will be displayed as a remembrance to it's former owner.
John, no problem at all with any of that... 8) If the lantern was a basket case, you did what you did within the resources you had available at the time. I'm glad you have the lantern as a remembrance of your Dad and I'd like to think that someone here will have the parts to restore it to working condition as it was when he had it, assuming that's what you want. If it isn't, good on you for not chucking it in a skip... If you can get it working as intended, you could light it in his honour, on the anniversary of his birth or death, Christmas, Thanksgiving, whatever. Now wouldn't that be nice..? ...and post a pic when you do - we like pics!
Seeing as you are not a collector and this lamp is more sentimental than anything then I think you do what you want and what makes you happy. I'm afraid I don't know anything about American lamps and therefore cannot answer the questions that you would like answered. Hopefully someone who does know will look past the bulbs and tell you what you want to know. As I say it is your lamp and you do what you want with it, if at any point in the future you decide to put it back to a pressure lamp then there are people here that can advise and help in the best possible way. All the best in finding your information, and please stick around as you may well catch the bug and end up collecting like the rest of us. Regards Matt.
Hello John and welcome aboard! If you decide to restore that lantern to working order, do remember to post some photos of it, Jeff.
How awesome would that be, to restore it to a working condition, as it was in his fathers possession And as David said, lighting it on birthdays etc would mean a great deal, I'm sure Count me in, if I can help out with any unavailable parts Oh, and by the way, welcome John
Whilst I don't like to see lamps converted in this way I absolutely defend any owners right to do whatever he wants with his property. Better to electrify than scrap because doing so does not affect value and does preserve the form for us to use as am illustration of the model. We did discuss where this post should be listed and it is here because the image does illustrate a Sears White Light in its correct form except for the colour and the electric bulbs. So as an example of a fairly rare lamp it needs to stay where it can be found as a reference. ::Neil::
