Coleman Quick Lite with Mica globe

[TerryLawson]

OK, first off I have to tell you that if you all don't stop it with all the bad influence my wife will make me stop playing at your house!!!

I went out looking for a new old Coleman Lantern with the intent to find one that I could maybe do some light restore work on to get my feet wet. While I did find a few in rough shape I kept wandering around the antique mall and found this thing just setting there asking for a home.

Here is what I need from all of you that know better! First off I am a newbee to all this lantern stuff so take it easy on me. Second I want you all to tell me that what I found is a Dimond in the Rough and I am the luckiest guy around!!!!

All joking aside here is what I found:






So what do you think? Does anyone have a like that explains the best way to clean this up? And how hard is it to find and external pump these days?

Thanks
Terry

[starleen2]

external pumps are not that hard to find - sometimes they come up on ebay from time to time - usually about $10.00 or so. I've pressurized mine with an air compressor at first to check it out. I'd do very little with the mica globe = repair what needs to be repaired and LEAVE IT ALONE. Disassemble and clean up what you can - those types were generally nickle plated - yo u might use some navel jelly to remove the rust and grime.

[Zollinger]

Hey Terry, we ain't scared of your wife! First she has to find us! I warn just about everybody how addicting this Coleman collecting is. Just what is it that they put in that white gas? Whatever it is it keeps us comming back for more. I still haven't found a Quicklite yet. A friend of mine has several, but does not have a clue how to even light it.

[Justin & Katy]

What a great find! That will clean up nicely. You can do several things to get the gunk off. I use citric acid. You can buy it in bulk and add it to water to make a mild acidic solution that will take off the rust and grim. You can aslo use lemon lime kool-aid. (no joke) Its the same thing. Go get you twenty packets of the stuff and mix it up in a five gallon bucket. If you use citric acid, be careful and keep an eye on it. it will take off the nickle if it soaks too long. I ususally let it soak for an hour or tiwo and then go to work on it with brasso. They really clean up. well. This is a nickle plated stove that i cleaned up using citric acid.








As you can see, the acid got rid of the gunk and really brought it back to life. Everyone does it differently. If you're not comfortable with the acid method try something else. If you choose to use the acid method, be sure to use seperate containers for brass and steel. I'm not sure how much steel is on that lantern if any but if you put it in togther, electrolysis will occur. I'm pretty sure you don't need to worry much about that though. Pretty much everything on that lantern is nickle plated brass.

[hotrod]

I need a globe for my quicklite, are there any still available??
Ive been slacking on the colemans lately. flea markets and yard sales are over for the year. nice find by the way, it doesnt look ttrashed!

[Zollinger]

I need a globe for my quicklite, are there any still available??
Ive been slacking on the colemans lately. flea markets and yard sales are over for the year. nice find by the way, it doesnt look ttrashed!

Paul not sure but I would check out http://www.oldcolemanparts.com/ I have bought parts from Bob before and had excellent service.

[TerryLawson]

You know the funny thing is that when i picked it up i didn't know anything about the Mica. But the person who had it befor didn't either there was a smaller glass globe inside of it!!!



I tried to look op the name on the globe but didn't find much. It seem that Surrax is like our Pyrex. It says Made in Germany in small print under the other writing.

Terry

[Wolffarmer]

Nice find Terry

You can put a glass globe on those lanterns but then it gets real hard to light the beasties. Have to take the top off, light it and put top back on, ( real quick like ). The mica globes have that little door for a reason.



It seems you can still get the Mica globes.

http://www.mikenchell.com/images/Fred_Kuntz_Catalog.pdf

Randy

[hotrod]

Im looking forward to seeing this one cleaned up!!
I know I walked past one of these 2 summers ago flea marketing..Still see it in my mind on the table...

[doug hodder]

I've got a new mica globe for my quiklight from the guy that Randy posted the link to. The little door is really nice for lighting...and also check out the mica globes for the 242's....nice vintage look for them. Doug