This USA Coleman CQ is unmarked on the fount and has only the 1919 patent stamped on the air tube. It has a CQ stamped on the fibre handle which is the earlier taller 4.5" version. I have fitted a suitable shade (Aladdin 9 7/8" 702 style ribbed opal white milk glass) onto the Q63 three pronged shade holder. I had issues with the Q99 generator and replaced it with a reproduction Q99 generator from Old Coleman and it has the original square nut holding it on though the flange was slightly smaller. I used a thread sealer to ensure a good fit. I cut my own lead washer 19 mm OD and 12.54 mm ID to seal the filler cap which required a good clean. The bell nickel plating was flaking too much and I stripped it and painted it with a cheap chrome paint. The underlying metal fitting was wire brushed and then painted grey to stop the rust getting out of control again. Tested the lamp again without expensive mantles and it burned very nicely indeed. Some photos are shown below. Iain The centering washer at the top of the fibre handle got an initial spray. With the Q63 shade holder fitted.
That’s a nice looking short fount tall handle CQ Iain! I like the early ones with the steel bell and reinforcing plate. Then again I feel CQs of any age are under appreciated.
It's cleaned up nicely, Iain. I haven't had much success running a CQ with an Aladdin shade. Cracked two of them.
Thanks for the tip Martin. I'll do the check test that @bigredmf suggested; sounds a good idea. I had the shade running once on an Aladdin but a bit more candle power in the Coleman.
@Buggerlugs yes it did hurt. @bigredmf There were no cracks that I was aware of and there were no holes in the mantles. Both shades had been used on the CQ before. It was winter and the temperature was around 3 deg C.(37 F). Both failed in the same week. One went off with a real bang. I did have more pressure in the lamp than usual so it was running brighter (hotter maybe). I don't know much about shades so they could have been reproduction and they were purchased secondhand.
Rob I’ve learned a lot about shades from a couple of collectors I consider mentors. One has pointed out that cold drafts can crack shades indoors. I’m not sure the quality shade you are running? Aladdin collectors seem to refer to any non Aladdin shade as Coleman in the USA. GPA collectors in the states seem to refer to any non GPA shade as Aladdin. There’s a good supply of quality glass in the US and what I’ve been told out of England, France, Germany and the Czech Republic seem to be quality. I am sure there are more good sources. I’m fortunate that local supply seems to produce early GPA shades often at prices less than modern reproductions. quilted shades are interesting in that when they crack they do so in a spectacular fashion as a mentor has pointed out from experience. All those reliefs and bumps seem to make sure they do. I run early shades several times a week but I’m cautious. I find them rather pleasant on the picnic table on the deck but I won’t run them with any kind of cool breeze or when wind speed exceeds 8 mph and only when temps exceed 20 degrees Celsius (68F) As you can see from my avatar I run 90-100 year old shades all of the time. In this case that’s a Coleman 335. Dated from the mid twenties I recall. In any case your mileage may vary.
@bigredmf Thanks Kevin for the information regarding shades. It gives me things to consider. A lot of shades are advertised as Aladdin or sometimes Aladdin / Coleman. Real Coleman shades are hard to come by here, in my experience. I'll just have to keep looking.
Sedgman A few questions, if I may: How to clean the inside of that vapouriser ? Is there packing inside the Vapouriser ? The pricker wire is on the end of a long, flexible wire ? Does the control wheel also shut off the fuel supply ? Coleman fuel or Shellite, I assume ? Thanks.
@Paul Aslanides Check out this excellent post in CPL: Restoring Q99's & safe starting procedure for Quick-Lites Coleman Fuel Yes, the valve control wheel shuts the fuel off. Regards
