Hi all, I've come across a Canadian made Coleman 242K, don't have a picture yet but will get one. I know nothing about it apart than it uses kerosene, it's dated Jan 1936 and it's missing the bale and globe. I've looked online, including old Coleman parts dot com for a replacement bale, globe, and other parts but no luck. Is it even worth trying to restore, given parts look almost impossible to get, or can I use parts from other models? Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Hi wretchedrichard, That’s a very nice lantern. Very bright and dependable. They are plentiful in the US and Canada, so it depends on whether it’s nice enough to invest some shipping dollars. The best thing to do, IMO, is to post a ‘Classified - Wanted to Buy’ on the Coleman Collectors Forum site for the parts you need. A lot of fellows have many multiples of the 242 and will probably be able to assist you for modest cost. Also there is a Thai seller (closer to you than we are here) on the Bay who sells new repro Coleman globes. They are of excellent quality — many of us here have used them. Good luck. You’ll be delighted when you get it running as it was designed! Ulf.
I saw that Coleman as well, i had a very close look at it by enlarging the picture, i have not ever seen a 242k with that size generator, it looks like a 249, but i could be wrong, but it is still worth buying at that price
The globe is the same as for 200, 242, 247, 249 etc. Easy enough to recognise a 242K, the cleaning needle control is a wheel and the spirit cup is accessed via a door in the base of the globe cage. 1934 (Sept) Coleman Cana
@outback boy thanks for reply, I'm less and less interested the more I think about it. If I could drop in and see it in person I might change my mind, but it's too far away from me and postage isn't an option.
Yes, Yes, Yes. Very worthwhile restoring it. The parts to restore it are turning up all the time. Often a secondhand Coleman can be found at a junk sale cheap with an intact bulge glass. Bails can be cleaned up from similar series models. The aluminium pre-heater cup can be obtained from the USA as a high quality replica. @Henry Plews has mentioned a couple of the key features usually associated with 242K lanterns. I do hope this is what you end up with as they are just a tad harder to obtain than some of the other 242 series lanterns. I would also add that for starters Jan 1936 is not in the date range (1934-1935) given by the 'Coleman book' but on the other hand often it is a bit out. Additionally, Australia seemed to get a lot of odd variations of Canadian lanterns and heaters. A different 480 Hot Ray, a different version of the 238B lantern and I would add variations to the 242K lantern. I have one without the lighting door in the base and another without the wheel on the pricker control. Some of these differences could be related to the transition from 242K to 247 which is becoming clearer but still presently mirky just the same; that is until the 247 bore a proper model number. So when @outback boy mentioned the possibility that the generator may be 'different', it could well be. My point being that your lantern might be a very late 242K and have some interesting features. Enjoy restoring it when you get it and please post pictures of the features so it can be clearly identified. Iain
