The Aladdin model 1 was an off the shelf Plume & Atwood design that used parts already designed, tooled up and recently started into production.  The only thing that differentiated The Mantle lamp company from the other companies buying P&A centre draft mantle lamps for resale was the marking on the wick raiser knob. The model 1 allowed a recent startup company to appear established and much larger than it was.  By the end of model 1 production Samuel Johnson had established a small research department and enough capital for the company to start making changes to the lamps manufactured by P&A for Aladdin.

Model 2 production illustrates the first changes made by the company's new R&D group as they searched for a better, more reliable and easier to use lamp design.  Each idea was rushed into production and tried out. At this writing I own four model 2 table lamps, each different from the other in some way and only one of them is exactly like the model 2 described in J.W. Courter's book. Considering that the model 2 was only in official production for 4 months I'm not sure that identical table lamps were produced for more than a month before another change was implemented. I suspect late model 2 lamps with the new model 3 gallery and generator were sold as model 3 lamps during the model 3 selling season.

I like to think of the Aladdin model 2 as a transition model that was in production while the R&D team was redesigning the Aladdin model 1 into the Aladdin model 3. The large number of changes made from the P&A generic centre draft design sold by the Mantle Lamp Company through the model 3 makes the model 2 one of the most interesting models Aladdin ever made.

A disassembled early Aladdin model 2 burner. The burner base remained the same as the model 1 burner base including the wick raiser knob. The obvious changes are the flame spreader and the air distributor.

Unique to the model 2 is that "MADE IN U.S.A." is stamped on the back side of the wick adjuster knob. It is the only knob that has writing on the back side.   It is a quick diagnostic between a model 1 burner base and an early model 2 burner base.

Late Aladdin model 2 burner has a model 2 burner base that has a wick adjuster shaft without  a stop, two piece air diffuser, model 3 flame spreader and the model 3 gallery for a Kone Kap mantle.

The early model 2 galleries were model 1 galleries with a metal ring attached to the underside of the centre open cone top to block off the ring of little holes. The model 1 patent marking was still stamped on the side of the early galleries.

Mid production model 2 gallery was formed without the top circle of holes. There is no patent marking on this gallery. This gallery was also used on the early Beacon burner.

Late model 2 lamps were fitted with the new Kone Kap gallery

The top flange on the early model 2 burner is wider than the model 1 top flange.  This top flange is the flame baffle for the centre draft lamps. The vapor zone tends to cling to the flange regulating the location of the flame.  One problem with this kind of baffle is that if you lower the gallery down rapidly after lighting the lamp the flame has a tendency to go out.

As you can see this burner has a single piece inverted cone screen air distributor.

Here is a view showing the wick raiser shaft used on the model 1 and early 2 burners. Later model 2 burners do not have the screw stop.

Late model 2 burner base showing the newer wick adjuster shaft and split screen air distributor

One piece early Model 2 air distributor. It was replace by a 2 piece screen later in production.

Side view of One piece early Model 2 air distributor.

This is the 2 piece air distributor that came with the late style model 2 burner used on the transition lamp. It is unique in that the outer flange and end flanges are bent in opposite directions. Later two part screen air distributors had all the flanges bent in the same direction. This provided better locking of the parts.

Late model 2 table font left, early model 2 font on right

Early and mid production (without #1 seat on inner wick tube) model 2 plain foot table font. The easy way to tell this font from the model 3 through 6 fonts is that the lower part of the bowl is smooth and without radial ribbing.

Here is a comparison between the early & mid model 2 table lamp font with the late model 2 font made with the new tooling.  Obvious changes include the addition of stiffening ribs and a collar that holds a thread insert.

Late model 2 table fonts have a smooth neck and internal threads as well as stiffening ribs at the base of the bowl.

This very early model 2 table font had rolled threads, the same as model 1. An interesting item on this lamp is that the inner wick tube has both the seat for the model 1 flame spreader supports and the seat for the model 2 flame spreader. This could be called a model 1-2 transition lamp.

Late Aladdin model 2 lamp font has a raised collar with threaded insert so the threads are hidden.  The model 3 table font has a coarser thread insert for the model 3 burner.

The Aladdin model 2 lamp uses the same wick raiser as the model 1. The gear on the wick adjuster shaft pushed directly on the oval holes.

The shape of the model 2 generator is unique to the model 2 plus other brands of Plume and Atwood manufactured lamps of the same era.

Aladdin model 3 generator found along with the model 3 gallery in very late model 2 lamps.  This is the first flame spreader unique to Aladdin

Aladdin model 1 through 6 used a filler cap with a flower pattern on top. There were two varieties, vented, with a hole in the centre top and unvented.

Models 1 through early 5 lamps with slotted burners used the vented cap.  Late model 5 and model 6 screen burners used the non vented type.

The Aladdin model 2 font lamp is basically the same as the model 1 font lamp with a seating ring for the model 2 generator on the inner wick tube and the current Aladdin model 2 production burner assembly.

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Wall bracket used on model 1 through 4 lamps.  Note the ring is nonadjustable like the model 23 deluxe bracket.  The difference being the pattern stamped into the early ring.

Model 2 Parlor lamp

Bottom view

Shade holder for model 1, 2 and possibly some early model 3 parlor lamps.  Not used on regular table lamps.  It is basically a P&A generic rectangular cross section  3 arm shade holder (see below) with a shade ring soldered on.

Ring shade supports were used in model 1 through 4 parlor lamps then bought back for model 23 table lamps that were made in Hong Kong.  The model 4 and presumably most of model 3 parlor lamps used a different shade holder.

The shade holder used on the model 2 Aladdin lamps were generic Plume & Atwood shade holders of the time. The table lamps used the rectangular cross section shade holder shown on the left. There are metal sliders on each arm. The sliders are moved out, the shade holder mounted to the base of the gallery and he sliders moved back in to lock the shade holder into place.

The Aladdin model 2 hanging lamp could be ordered with or without the dome shade and shade ring. 

The hanger for Aladdin models 2-4 used a different ring lock than the model 1

This shade ring was used on model 1-4 hanging lamps that came with a shade.  It just slides down the harp and rests there.

Note the large head shade securing screws.  These screws are unique to this style shade ring.  If you are missing one or more, the shade ring is tapped for a 10-24 screw size.

Smoke bell was used on all hanging lamps from model 1 through 6.
NOTE: These have been reproduced in brass. The original Aladdin smoke bells are made from a non-magnetic nickel Iron alloy.