Coleman Lanterns
- europachris
- Member
- Posts: 1017
- Joined: Sat. Dec. 09, 2006 5:54 pm
- Location: N. Central Illinois
I don't know if this was covered in a previous post, but gasoline burning Colemans (either Coleman fuel or Unleaded) have a "fuel-air tube" of a few different designs based upon the vintage of the lantern. Essentially, it allows a fuel-air vapor to be created in a cold generator so the lantern can be lit without preheating.
Most of the table lamps did not have this feature, instead just having straight pickup tubes in the fount. Only the last few lamp models had the same sort of fuel-air tubes as the lanterns. The first lamps and lanterns needed a alcohol torch to preheat the generator - basically some felt pads soaked in alcohol on a little clamp that was put on the generator and lit. The "Quick-Lite" lamps and lanterns featured the Q99 generator with the loop in it and only needed a pair of wooden matches to preheat it.
Kerosene lamps and lanterns always have straight pickup tubes and require preheating. Even gas models with fuel-air tubes require preheating since kerosene isn't volatile enough to vaporize at room temp. So, they have a little cup around the generator that is filled with alcohol and lit prior to lighting. It sounds like a lot of extra hassle to most people, but it's really not a big deal. I've converted several lantern models to run on kerosene as well, but still camp with Coleman fuel in them since my stove runs on it as well and a tank full will last through most all of my camping trips.
The other thing is that generators will clog up with carbon residue quite a bit sooner on kerosene. The kero models have larger diameter generators to minimize the effects, but I've found running Kleen-Heat or similar top quality kerosene results in barely any more buildup than Coleman fuel. Bulk pump kero has been both very good and very bad - even from the same station and pump.
It's fun taking a 90 year old lamp and experiencing what it was like before electricity was installed in homes.
Chris
Most of the table lamps did not have this feature, instead just having straight pickup tubes in the fount. Only the last few lamp models had the same sort of fuel-air tubes as the lanterns. The first lamps and lanterns needed a alcohol torch to preheat the generator - basically some felt pads soaked in alcohol on a little clamp that was put on the generator and lit. The "Quick-Lite" lamps and lanterns featured the Q99 generator with the loop in it and only needed a pair of wooden matches to preheat it.
Kerosene lamps and lanterns always have straight pickup tubes and require preheating. Even gas models with fuel-air tubes require preheating since kerosene isn't volatile enough to vaporize at room temp. So, they have a little cup around the generator that is filled with alcohol and lit prior to lighting. It sounds like a lot of extra hassle to most people, but it's really not a big deal. I've converted several lantern models to run on kerosene as well, but still camp with Coleman fuel in them since my stove runs on it as well and a tank full will last through most all of my camping trips.
The other thing is that generators will clog up with carbon residue quite a bit sooner on kerosene. The kero models have larger diameter generators to minimize the effects, but I've found running Kleen-Heat or similar top quality kerosene results in barely any more buildup than Coleman fuel. Bulk pump kero has been both very good and very bad - even from the same station and pump.
It's fun taking a 90 year old lamp and experiencing what it was like before electricity was installed in homes.
Chris
- warminmn
- Member
- Posts: 8190
- Joined: Tue. Feb. 08, 2011 5:59 pm
- Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Riteway 37
- Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
- Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt
Theres some very good information on this thread. Ive learned some things from it. Thanks everyone!
200A modified to run on kerosene.
Attachments
Here is a 220E that was my father's and a 228H that was a Christmas gift back in 1974 from my parents. They both need Coleman fuel which has come down in price recently to $7.64 per gallon plus tax. That is still more than it should be but I feel like I can use my Coleman fuel fueled lanterns again. Yeah I'm cheap.
My father's 220E spent a lot of time on a boat around salt water and is a little worse for wear. I just recently retrieved it and haven't cleaned it up yet.
My father's 220E spent a lot of time on a boat around salt water and is a little worse for wear. I just recently retrieved it and haven't cleaned it up yet.
Attachments
Petromax 150 CP on kerosene, not a Coleman
Attachments
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30300
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Nice CH!
Here are three newer lanterns that all can run on 87 oct gasoline or Coleman fuel. That is what Coleman calls Dual Fuel. Left to right Model 295, 226, 2000. The 295 is off and the 2000 is turned down low. In the second picture the 226 is turned down low so the camera would work right.
Attachments
https://vimeo.com/198243638 I had nothing to do with the production of this video. I just thought it was nice and it is related to Coleman lanterns.
- bcdex
- Member
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed. Mar. 11, 2015 5:14 pm
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: DS 100 Coal/Wood bolier
I bet Coleman charges more for the dual fuel. Ha, I'm 67 and still useing the same Coleman lantern I had when I was a teenager. Guess what? That's all I burned back then was regular gas in it. Still works today at our campsite.
-
- Member
- Posts: 1037
- Joined: Sat. Oct. 28, 2006 9:24 am
- Location: Hustonville, Ky
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Legacy SF-270
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 503
- Coal Size/Type: Stoker/Bit, Pea or Nut Anthracite
It’s well made and allows you to use normally as a pump or unscrew the pump knob and pump up quickly with a compressor or bicycle pump. It beats my original pump by a long shot. Very nicely machined.
- ASea
- Member
- Posts: 1156
- Joined: Thu. Nov. 27, 2014 8:55 pm
- Location: Athol Massachusetts
- Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Alaska Kast Console II
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: Coal Chubby
- Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood Modern Oak 114, Glenwood 30 "Estate" Warm Morning 120
- Coal Size/Type: Sherman Anthracite Nut/Stove from C&T Coal
- Other Heating: Peerless Boiler with Cast Iron Baseboards
I belive the Amish still use something similar. They sell them at Lehman's.
- mntbugy
- Member
- Posts: 2046
- Joined: Fri. Dec. 23, 2016 2:36 pm
- Location: clearfield,pa
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: D S 1500, Warm Moring 400
- Baseburners & Antiques: Art Garland 145,GW114 ,Clarion 115, Vestal 20 Globe,New Royal22 Globe, Red Cross Oak 56,Acme Ventiduct 38,Radiant Airblast 626,Home Airblast 62,Moores #7,Moores 3way
- Coal Size/Type: stove and nut and some bit
- Other Heating: Propain
A pic of my 228H I think. Has the metal transport case, the Sheppard's pole to hang the lantern. Also has side clip for Sheppard pole to hang another off .
Tool box under fuel tank.
Globe has yellow glass to help keep skeeters away when burning.
Spent many,many hours under lantern
cat fishing at night.
Tool box under fuel tank.
Globe has yellow glass to help keep skeeters away when burning.
Spent many,many hours under lantern
cat fishing at night.
Attachments
Always liked the big hats. Some of the old ones had a white enamel on the underside which was a nice touch.
-
- New Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri. Jan. 31, 2020 4:59 am
- Location: New Jersey, North Bergen
- Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Anthracite Industrial.
- Coal Size/Type: Nuts
- Other Heating: Oil & Electric
252 mil-spec. It can burn car gas for camp fuel. Camp fuel will keep the generator cleaner. The last 252 I bought had a fount nearly full of regular unleaded gas ( RUG) in it. For a very long time. I filled it on up with camp fuel and it fired up and burned for about 18 hours ( it seems ) A few more founts of camp fuel and the stink in the tank is about all gone.
Great lanterns but they do make noise. There is no screen in the burner cap so that it will not plug up with leaded fuel. That causes an ever so small back flash that makes it roar.
Great lanterns but they do make noise. There is no screen in the burner cap so that it will not plug up with leaded fuel. That causes an ever so small back flash that makes it roar.
- freetown fred
- Member
- Posts: 30300
- Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Freetown,NY 13803
- Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
- Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut
Come on A--ya know better---no pix, nobody's gonna buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL