Okay,

Here is what happend next: I got fed up with the burner not turning, so I slightly bent back one of the metal retainers just enough to allow me to remove the burner csx, which revealed that the burner its self was complete crap! Sorry about the language...          But really! It was really rusty, mire than half the wick tube was gone, the remaining half was useless, the bottom of the burner was rusted tight to the fuel tank, one of the gears was stripped out on one side, etc.         so, I took everything apart, gasping silently in horror (sort of), and wondering if I could save it. After whacking the joint between the burner and fuel tank, I got the last bit out, and looked at the rusty carnage spread before my eyes:

yeah...      Good luck with that! I think if I can make a new wick tube, and remove the rust, there's still hope! And to the seller of this item, if you happen to be reading this, which I doubt, I mean no offense to you, I doubt you knew about this issue! Anyway, time to see about removing rust. Tomorrow I'll play with the soldering iron!

Before & after- lantern body

I gave the lantern a once-over with some steel wool, and the results were....

...stunning! Positively stunning! The chimney is more heavily tarnished, but fortunately there is no all out rust anywhere on the exterior. The fuel tank on the other hand needs a bit of work. I have looked at the patent dates closely, and it appears to be marked "S-2-36", or in other words it was made in Dietz's Syracuse NY factory, like most Vestas, and was built in Febuary of 1936. Not bad, not bad! On my other vesta, I can't make out the date due to thin, but resilient rust.

Great work!

Great work Leverttrailfan! Do you have a nice showcase shelf or something for it?

-Al

P.S. I found this book about Leverett and a railroad in New England. Not sure if it is the Leverett you are interested in: 

http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/llan-starkweather/the-railroad-which-changed-leverett-forever/paperback/product-2366904.html

Well

I have a case in my room, I usually reserve it for model trains because it isn't too big, but I think I might have space in it for this one. Thanks for the complement! 

There is another big issue with it I need to solve. The feet for the lantern are bent out of shape enough that the fuel tank touches the ground. Not good! I have to fix that, so in a bit I'll take out a hammer, and pound it against a flat surface to get the feet straightened out. The chimney doesn't seem to be getting polished, so I may need a less fine variety of steel wool for it. Either that, or leave it as is....

Oh, and

Al thanks for pointing out that book. It is the very same that runs through my town, once the New London Northern, then the Central Vermont, and now New England Central.

First light

I filled up the tank, and borrowed the burner from my other Dietz Vesta so that I could run this one. I really like the way the frosted letters glow, now I know why they did them that way!

very nice-

Makes me want to get mine working. Recently acquired CGW (Chicago Great Western) kerosene lantern. Don't have marked globe though- dang ain't you lucky! 

What year do you think your

What year do you think your lantern is?

Year:

I wrote it further up, but it is stamped S-2-36. This means it was made in Dietz's Syracuse NY factory, and was made in Febuary of 1936. And to Cody, totally get it working if you can! If it's got all the parts, it'll make your job easier than mine. Until I make the new part fir the B&M lantern's burner, I have to keep borrowing the burner from the other one (Michigan Central, patent date mostly obscured but I think maybe 1928. It has the old style Vesta tank, and other old features). These lanterns are incredibly strong, bright, and fun!

..

Just some rust and someone got solder on it somehow. Nothing needs to be replaced so yes I am good on that note.

I would suggest

If you plan on painting it, and have an ample supply of vinegar, that you use that to take off as much rust as it can, and then use some abrasive once you have removed as much as you can. Or, use rust converter on it, and paint it or leave it as is. Rust converter is essentially a chemical that will convert the rust into a material that will not rust. I don't think that any varieties come out silver, but I haven't done research yet. Someone told me about it, but I never got 'round to looking into it...

not painting it

I plan to experiment with CLR, have you ever tried that?

CLR?

Tell me more! Those initials sound intriguing!