To my delight I found this radiant heater while searching for more pressure lamps. I suppose it deserves to go in the refence gallery with proper photos, but there are still some issues I need assistance with. The first is the model. #18 Is Kerosene and #19 is gasoline. My unit has a #19 decal describing it as running on gasoline, but the valve/generator body assembly lacks the lighting lever the gasoline units are fitted with. I am not sure if the colour was model type specific, but mine is a champagne metallic as opposed to other #18 brown samples I have seen on the net. So, despite the decal and whether there was any conversions done in the past, I believe this is a kero heater. I have not fully fettled it yet, but it lights and burn kerosene after a good pre-heat. (though with weak blue flames with long yellow tails.) I have disassembled and cleaned the 482-299 generator as best I could. I just have not managed to get the coil out for proper cleaning. I have tried carb cleaner and a few heat/quenches. Next will be oven cleaner and more quenches. Any additional advice on this is welcome, I believe the carbon buildup jamming the coil could be the cause of the yellow flames. Phil Botha (Phaedrus) is working on his own, and he has given me helpfull tips and info, thanks Phil.
To remove the coil from a Coleman vapouriser/generator I let it soak in vinegar for several days, but I checked it each day and it eventually loosened enough that I could gently pull it out with a set of long nosed pliers. That's a fine fettling project!
Thanks Jeff. I shall report back. I have looked at the Gasoline/Kerosene issue again. It is clear from my heater's decal that a sticker was stuck over the part that says it is a model no19 and to use gasoline. I bet the sticker stated model no18/ kerosene instead. I also venture this was done at the factory.
Paraffin/kerosene was more widely used within the former British Empire, so if Coleman had an order for paraffin heaters, it makes sense that they would have converted what heaters they had in stock to fullfill the order. Coleman built a factory in Canada so that they could sell into the British Empire without incurring the tariffs which were in place at the time and the former British Empire was a large market, so that was yet another smart move by Coleman.
Thanks for the interest and comments. I can report back that I have found another piece of the puzzle and some good news. I showed the model #19 (Gasoline model) decal above, and that it had another "lost" sticker or label pasted over it. We proposed that this lost label could have indicated it was in fact a kerosene model #18. I can now support the model 18 theory. There is a second, badly burnt instruction label on the side of the heater. The remains of the word kerosene can be made out in at least two places . If the #mods feel so inclined, they are welcome to edit the thread title to identify the heater as a Coleman Model 18 "Radiant" kerosene portable gas fire. I eventually managed to clear out the solidified carbon buildup from the generator, and the heater now runs beautifully. Coleman claimed 6200 BTU, and I can assure you that sitting closer than 6 feet in front of the tiny 36 inch heater warms you up very rapidly.
