need help with identifying old pressure lantern

Would like to identify the age and manufacturer of this pressure Lantern?

 

Welcome aboard!

I reckon that it's a Lind-o-Lite model 115 and the link below shows an example.

Lind-O-Lite 115

 

thanks! been trying to identify it for some time now with little luck. thanks for the help! what era is the lind-o-lite 115 from? 20's? 30's? any idea of value? was thinking on getting it running again.

 

I reckon that your lantern is from the mid to late 1920's and the link below shows a Lind-o-Lite catalogue from about 1930, (the library is only open to subscribers) and the same model number is used for a lantern, but it's a more modern looking example, which is why I reckon that your lantern is earlier.

We don't give valuations here, but in my opinion it's a fine restoration project.


https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/1930-lind-o-lite.2290/

 

thanks for all your help! I will do some more research on it and try to restore her to her former glory! thanks again for the info!

 

All Lind-O-Lite lamps and lanterns date from late 1928 to 1937. This one with a carburetor valve and internal fuel feed is model 115(I) and will date from about 1930 -1931. By 1933 the carburetor valve was replaced with a more normal control type. The (I) is my suffix in the PLC for these early lamps to distinguish them from the External feed types which I have given an (E) suffix. Lind-O-Lite lamps used Coleman generators and because they used the R55 from the start they have to post date the introduction of that generator which was about 1928/9.

Lindemann made a superb quality product, perhaps even better than Coleman. They often survive in great condition and considering they are all pre WW2 that is a testament to serious quality. They can nearly always be fettled to run becuse they were all designed to use Coleman generators and the rest was so well made they nearly always just require new seals. That is a very nice find and possibly one of the best lanterns ever made in the 1930s. ::Neil::

 

That's a classic American lantern. My guess would be 1920s, latest 1930s.
Its probably so well thought-out, engineered and made that the makers likely had a hard time securing sufficient sales on the spare parts.

 

The earliest newspaper advert for Lind-O-Lite lamps and lanterns is July 1930 in the US but a month earlier in Australia. The Aus advert shows the external feed carburettor lantern so we know that was from the early 1930s and we have a 1930 catalogue which confirms that. The last advert is from 1936 and after that they discontinued all small appliance manufacture. I suspect they may have made lamps from about 1928/9 but the lack of adverts suggests a little later and 1930 as a start date for sales although they could well have been in production by late 1929. It is therefore probably more correct to say L&H lamps are all 1930s. ::Neil::

 

Put themselves out of business, so to speak! Coleman stayed alive by slightly cheapening the product and it worked!

 

Over the course of time, we all have seen numerous manufacturers that made excellent quality products went out business or being acquired by others and their names eventually disappeared from the scene. Unfortunate fact.
Probably, operational costs and profitability had not been sufficiently addressed to ensure the success of their "Business Continuation Plan".
Or there wasn't enough adaptations being implemented to meet the ever-changing needs and requirements as time passes.
The best-engineered and made products on the market would be obsolete soon enough.

 

Or more simple: there was no need anymore, gaslight, electrical light, was easier to "handle".

 

I really like the look of this lantern. It’s lovely and yours looks in very good nick. Presumably, this model relies on the ‘hung’ mantle method common to early Veritas lamps ( Superb etc) which are known to be very temperamental to light up and to keep burning. Does anyone know how these Lind-O-Light compare in reliability terms?

 

I'm pretty sure that Lind-O-Lite was an engineering marvel in its right.(based on instinctive feel only).
If there're no missing parts, the odds are, you'd get it working again without too much effort.

 

I'm pretty sure that Lind-O-Lite was engineering marvel in its right.(based on instinctive feel only). Just by the looks of its elegance and simplicity in design.
If there're no missing parts, which I'd quess quite unlikely, the odds are: you'll probably get it working without too much effort.
There are some lanterns that simply work, no matter how badly it was neglected or ill-maintained in the past. They usually don't bring much profits to the makers as well.

 

It should work very well. It will probably want a few new seals and maybe a new pump leather but after a clean of the air tubes these lamps are pretty much as good to fettle as any Coleman. It will also use a Coleman generator so even if that wants replacing it is a simple fettle. ::Neil::

 

hi its me again with the lind-o-lite 115. thanks for all the responses. due to work and life the 115 was put on the back burner. now its back on the work bench. where can I find replacement gasket and packing kit for it?

 

@Eric,
Are you a collector familiar with restoring old pressure lanterns ?
That is devices with flammable fuel under pressure with an open flame.

 

I wouldn't say a collector but I have a coleman 327 quick lite and model 220e coleman lantern that I have stripped completely down cleaned rebuilt and now use for camping.

 

@EricM1garand

Try www.oldcolemanparts.com

Compare the filler cap with those on your 327 and 220E, either Cap Gasket 220 or Cap Gasket 427 will fit your Lind - O - Lite 115.

Before ordering parts, use one of your Coleman filler caps to hold pressure in the 115 fount and check the function of the valve packing, it may just need the jamb nut tightening a little. IF you do need new packing, Small valve stem packing will probably fit, if not, you can make your own packing with this Graphite Ribbon

Compare the pump leather with those on your Coleman lanterns, perhaps Leather Pump Cup
will fit.

 

thank you for responding. I changed the filler cap to see if it would hold pressure filler cap does not leak but I cannot get the shut-off valve to completely shut off the lantern it keeps bleeding through. I also cannot get the pump to screw into the check valve will pump up pressure but cannot get it to screw into shut off check valve I am not very familiar with the Lind-o lites on the internals

 

Nice looking lantern, built to last.
Cheers
Pete

 

The following images are of a beaten up spare valve unit.



It may be that there is some corrosion in the area marked green which is preventing the parts from seating correctly. Using vinegar, it may be possible to clean this off without removing the unit from the fount. If you dilute 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water it will be safe to leave it standing overnight. If this doesn't work, you'll have to take the unit out of the fount and clean the area manually with very fine wire wool. You may have to desolder the coil at red.

 

. . as long as the outer diameter does not exceed 5/16"

 

That's because there's no screw thread at the bottom of the pump barrel - at least there isn't on my example.

 

@EricM1garand

I've just realised I'm looking at a model 105 and the valve unit is different though the principal is the same.

 

@EricM1garand

. . cannot get the pump to screw into the check valve.

After more investigating, if the bottom end of the pump barrel looks like this


it's missing one of these



After some experimenting, I found that the check valve from an early 220 series Coleman (I used a 220D) will fit the pump barrel but the Lind O Lite air stem will not fit the Coleman check valve. However, the 220D pump plunger and airstem are the same length as that of the Lind O Lite and can be used instead. Not correct but given the scarcity of Lind O Lite parts, it's probably the way to go if you want a working lantern.

 

@EricM1garand

I hope you can get this lantern working. I like the look of it!

On returning to this thread and re-reading it, I was curious about this statement by @Alex74:

What do you mean by “‘hung’ mantle”? Are you referring to single tie mantles as opposed to the Tilley style double tie mantles?

The Australian Gloria 33 is basically a copy of a Lind-O-Lite and they are an excellent lantern.

Tony

 

here are some pictures of it once I got it apart. it is apparent that someone in the past has worked on it. it has a check value still in it and seems to work. The inside of the tank had pieces of loose solder from when someone had worked on it hopefully they did not come up the internals with solder. I appreciate all the help and information with this Lind o lite.

 

Looks amazing that lantern. Great find. Can’t wait to see a few photos of it running well and bright. Some call it the ‘money shot’ on this forum... And Some members get extremely inpatient to see money shots... you’ve been warned!...

where did you find it, if I may ask? Local shop or online auctions?