I have 2 Coleman Quick Lite lanterns. The 1926 model 427 is quite original with a mica globe and a nice shiny tank. The 327 model from 1923 has a much duller tank, someone spray painted it silver and orange. It has non-original glass and a wingnut on top. Instead of trying to restore either of these lanterns, I just fixed them up enough so that they work. I did remove the worst of the paint overspray and grime. Since the 327 is already not original it got a model R55 generator with a built in cleaning needle. What I realized is that the wingnut is there for a reason, not just because the brass knurled nut got lost. To light the lantern I have to take off the lid and lift up the glass since there is no longer the access door from the mica version. Once it's lit, the lid goes back on and so does the wingnut. That's how I realized the wingnut is actually an upgrade along with the glass. When things are hot it's good to handle the lid with gloves or a rag and the wingnut is much easier to deal with. I've read about lanterns with extra holes added for lighting access but to me it makes sense that if you replace the mica with glass you also use a wingnut.
