Pressure lantern

[Mike Kelly]

Something different. I recently found an old kero pressure lantern and after a bit of googling I found some background.

http://www.pressurelamps.co.uk/index...s/39-austramax

Wondering if these were used by the Aust. military in WW2 , after a quick AWM search I found a pic of one in use at Noemfoor 1944. The advert is from 1941.

Appears that these Austramax lanterns are still in production at Brunswick and very little has changed design wise since 1941 !
http://www.oillamps.com.au/presser%20lamps.htm

[Mike Kelly]

After more searching, apparently the military preferred the 'HANDI' lantern, these were manufactured in Brisbane from the 1930's onwards. The Noemfoor pic: the lantern does appear to be a Austramax so maybe both types were used by the services. The adverts are somewhat misleading ( and potentially dangerous ) because they state either Kero or Petrol as the fuels. Reading the fine print however reveals that Shellite is the optional fuel to kero . Myself, I would say some prayers before running these things on automotive petrol

http://handimuseum.tripod.com/the_factory.htm

[Mike Kelly]

The ubiquitous British made Tilley lantern as issued during WW2 .

[maple_leaf_eh]

The equivalent lantern in Canada is a Coleman white gas device. https://www.colemancanada.ca/en_CA/l...aphtha&start=1 Pressure tank on the bottom, feeding a generator, and the vapour burns in a rather fragile fabric mantle. The flame is contained by a cylindrical gas globe and a steel cap. To hang and carry it, there is a swinging bale handle.

The scale of issue is quite good. Someone figured out that the best container is a rectangular sheet metal box with a hinge and hasp. Throw some spare mantles, a generator and a 2" diameter fuel funnel inside, and that bad boy is a lifesaver. The heat from a lantern will keep the arctic tent warm and toasty!

I have seen a sheet metal reflector from the bottom that screws down with the top nut, and resembles a giant coffee cup. Otherwise, the heat coming off the top hat will cook your hand (and burn your glove or mitt).

[Lynn Eades]

Shellite, White gas, N.L.gas, White spirits. These are all non leaded petrol.
Is Naptha another one or is it something else?
I have a brand new 1966 dated British army issued lantern. It has a heater shield / reflector that came with it. I will post the brand name later.

[Mike Kelly]

Shellite, White gas, N.L.gas, White spirits. These are all non leaded petrol. Ah OK but the white spirits the hardware sells here isnt petrol.

Yes Nth. America is pretty much Coleman territory but they do turn up here as well.

Apparently the British forces also used the Vapalux brand during WW2 , the WW2 dated examples are worth big bucks as are the genuine Swedish made Primus lanterns. Seems that from the early 1900's onwards just about everybody ripped off the original Swedish Primus concept and it's been ongoing since then.