![[coleman-351]](https://i.postimg.cc/nrcd3tCN/coleman-351.jpg)
i have a notched vent on my NL as well as a Fred 323 mica , but since there is no mica door im not sure a notched vent would have been used now ? .......back when i got a lot of my stuff we didnt have much info and i thought i was doing right , now i question everything ...... just not sure ......... oh , way back then i asked the forum but never got any good info , like the type you just shared here Larry ....i saw NL's with and without notched vents but somehow i thought the notched was early , now i think otherwise ....i highly respect your research ........... we HAVE come a long ways since then :-)
thinking of putting a no notch vent on it and putting the notched vent on a QL .
this still hasent all sunk in for me yet .
323 / 327Mica globe information :
no. 323 : IL and later NL model lantern designated mica dimensions began as :
5”x 5” no. 327 for QL: the first Quick-Lite mica with wide reflector and swinging match lighting door dimensions began as :
5”x 5” September 1916 Tabs also appeared on the vent brim base edge to help secure the mica particularly when operating the match lighting door at this time, with design bleed over to Yale YLQ January 1917, and likely the torch lighting lanterns too with no. 323 mica.
September 1918 Coleman officially changed designation from QL to LQ, the following month torch lighting model GS 323 began shipping. Shortly after mica dimensions changed :
to 5”x 5 1/4”Height
For both the new no. LQ 327 and
no. 323 mica.
Yes Both!!! There was also a reflector offered for the IL in this time that clasped to the frame. Increasing mica height action eliminated the function for tabs on the vent brims after September 1918 for all Air O Lantern, transitioning was slow.
Reflector design with swinging door also started to change in this time frame 1919/20 to a narrower type that was used on Quicklite lanterns including Yale ML, and LZ through : October 1924. The replacement mica only(less reflector) was designated :
no. LQ 327 1/2
1925 models advertising and catalogs show the new Coleman “427” debut and the 327 models with an upward sliding match lighting door still designated as : no. 327. This style mica was advertised in some years to come as six , twelve and thirteen piece mica changing dimensions to :
4 7/8”x 5 3/8” (5 1/2”) in the late 1920s and through the thirties. Another mica designation :
no. 220 mica appears in Coleman Jobber advertising in this new instant lighting (1928) time frame labeled as a six piece mica for 220/228 also listed to fit 327/427 as well.
There are some mica examples found occasionally with Coleman branded with ink on the mica panels, and a small number with Genuine Coleman stamped frames. Some very brief advertising even described a brass framed mica for 427.
