Like many other countries, we have currently no manufacturers for pressure lamp nor lantern here in Japan. I have no doubt, however, that there WERE many enterprises because Japan was one of the advanced industrial countries even before WW2.
A few month ago, I talked with Neil McRae and he said "Shinzo, why don't you start searching for Japanese pressure lamps ?"
It was the beginning of my research for Japanese pressure lamps and with many help from my collector fellows in Japan, I was lucky to find an existing manufacturer in Tokyo which once had made pressure lanterns.
Followings are brief report of my company visit to the manufacturer, "Nobel Company, Ltd."
As of Sep. 2001
"Nobel Lamp" was developed and manufactured by Nobel Company, Ltd. located Osaki, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan and its sales agency was Nobel Trading Co., Ltd. located Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
It seems that trial piece of the Nobel lamp was developed and produced around 1951 to 1952, judging from the fact that it was fully tested and certified by the Engineering Research Laboratory of National Railways in July 1952.
In addition, it seems that the lamp was put into commercial production and sold in 1953, since the Yomiuri-Newspaper, Japanese major paper, carried a story of introduction of the lamp in Nov. 1953.
According to my interview with a person in charge of development and production of those days, they imported a lantern from US Coleman to refer to. Unfortunately, he does not remember its specific model No. There is some possibility that it was Coleman Model 200, judging from Nobel Lamp's red porcelain ventilator, logo of the fount, and structure of fuel valve assembly.
By the way, the sales price of those days was JPY3,460 which seems to be equal to JPY22,000 ( about US$183 ) at present value.
In the material of those days, National Railways, the Metropolitan Police Board, the Fire Defense Agency, the Security Agency, the Forestry Agency, the Ministry of Construction, and Japan Cultivation and Agricultural Cooperative Association were reported as its main customers.
The company of those days was technology oriented rather than sales oriented and they did not know much about sales practices. Therefore, the company marketed its products mainly to government related agencies because of their trustworthiness.
Since the lamp was introduced as one of useful goods for emigrants ( to South America ? ) in the old material of The Foundation of Emigration Assistance, the emigrants might bring the lamps to the countries in which they had have settled.
Furthermore, the company exported the lamps to some countries in Asia, and catalogue and leaflet written in English are still remained.
The company seems to stop their production of lanterns sometime in 1970s due to decrease of the sales.
The main spec of Nobel Lamp Model NA-100
Single mantled kerosene lantern, 200cp.
Fuel Capacity : 0.6L
Height : 12-1/4 inches
Width : 5-1/2 inches
Weight : 3 lbs
Ventilator : red porcelain on steel
Globe : tapered clear globe
Frame : combination of steel & brass
Base plate : steel
Base rest : steel
Fount : steel
Fuel valve assembly : brass
Burner assembly : brass
An alcohol midget tank for preheat was placed in clip under the fount, and aluminum shade and frosted globe were sold as separate items.
There were two types for the fount color, silver gray painted and nickel plated.
In addition, as a Military-Spec, there was a special model whose base rest and fount were painted for military use and one of this model is still remained in the company.
Please see following images.
Another model which was put into their commercial production was named "Cherry Lamp". Unfortunately, no model was remained. According to its leaflet, the spec was as follows;
The main spec of Cherry Lamp ( Model NO. unknown )
Single mantled kerosene lantern, 300cp
Fuel Capacity : 0.5L
Height : 12.5 inches
Width : 5.5 inches
Weight : 3.5 lbs
Besides Nobel Lamp and Cherry Lamp, there were at least two types of trial piece. There are some photos of those days remained. According to a person in charge of development and production of those days, these types of lantern were not mass-produced.
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