Hi there folks, I have a bit of a conundrum with my recent lantern acquisition. The fount and control valve assembly is Akron but the hole upper section looks like a Coleman 220/228. It has a bit of corrosion and the top has some chips and rust but still in pretty good shape. The glass was missing so I borrowed a glass from a 220. The filler cap washer was as hard as a rock so this has been taken care of now and the cap now seals. The leather pump cup was a bit dry but still in very good shape so it is soaking in oil. While the leather cup is soaking I decided to use one of my Amish filler caps with schrader valve to do some testing. And can you believe this the lantern was shipped 1/2 full of Coleman fuel. Some people really need to learn how to empty out the fuel tank. This one had a very strong smell of fuel and I hadn't opened the box yet. As stated the filler cap needed a new washer so it was leaking inside the box. Once I got everything taken care of it was time to do some testing. It has a very nice blue flame. It was now time to add some mantles. This lantern runs very well. This may have been a Mil Spec lantern but I'm not sure. It does indeed look like someone mixed and matched Akron with Coleman but again I'm not sure. I like it and it runs good so for me I guess that good enough. If anyone has more information about this lantern I'd appreciate any information it. Cheers, Norman
The fount could well be from a Milspec lantern. If so then it's 1944 which was the only year Akron made a milspec. ::Neil::
Hey Norman Has the fount's bottom stamped in it the following? US The Akron Lamp & MFG. CO. Akron Ohio If so this could be the result of AKRONs contract to supply of MilSpec lanterns in the WW2 years. Further the upper section and hood would be correct. See @Alex Smith recent post on the same type of lantern, he has just scored 2 of these with similar upper works and hoods. This is a very good find, well snaffled mate. Cheers Pete
The USQM bought civilian designed lamps as well as Milspecs so it may have been a complete US Akron Diamond 132 to begin with and from any time during the production run for the model. The valve control was the one used for Diamond "Instant-Glo" lamps and the instructions on the label would be correct for the model but are also correct for a Coleman 220. I would guess the lamp was fettled by either the QM Dept or a later owner by scrapping the Diamond burner and replacing with Coleman parts. Makes sense because that Akron generator was not serviceable and not manufactured after 1948 so a well used lantern could well have died in the 1950s and the only way to go would be a burner/generator change. It's an interesting lamp with history. ::Neil::
Hi Pete, On the bottom of the tank it has stamped; US The Akron Lamp & MFG. CO. Akron Ohio Cheers, Norman
@Norman, snap! The same markings as my two. Interesting they have ended up either side of the pond. It would be interesting to learn the story behind my two ending up in the UK.
@Alex Smith, You are correct in stating it would be very interesting to learn more of why your two ended up in the UK. I would guess with the Akron lanterns, Coleman parts were used for repairs due mostly to the availability of parts. I did go to the Coleman Collectors Forum and posed the question as to why this lantern has an Akron fuel tank with a Coleman 220/228 upper section. I was told by people far more knowledgeable then I am that Akron did this mixing of Akron and Coleman in the later part of 1944 because of the lack of Akron replacement parts. Now with this said they also stated they were told about this conversion by someone else so they stated they didn't know for sure. I have learned over the years not to believe most things I hear and I would bet money that you would agree. I would truly like to know the story behind this lantern but in truth it may never happen due mostly to a lot of misinformation out there. You are fortunate to have two of these lanterns whereas I only have one. My lanterns does run very well. You asked me about the mantles I used. I used the Coleman 11 mantles rated at 500 C.P. These mantles do work pretty good. My lantern like yours is quite bright almost blindly bright. Cheers, Norman
These US military lanterns turn up in the UK because they arrived with the troops in 1942/3 and a lot went to war with them after D Day so they turn up in Europe as well. ::Neil::
