Not mine and no association with the seller, but I guess something to share as someone might be interested to bring a battered Coleman 238B back to life... It is advertised on a local Spanish marketplace: MIL ANUNCIOS.COM - Farol coleman This one seems to be missing the flame tube of the rapid heater and has a Petromax fuel cap.
Whoa! That's around $180 Canadian. Somebody closer to Spain than me needs to grab that! A Coleman parts collector in the US had NOS preheater assemblies a couple of years back, so they are out there. A little nickelling of the fount and you're in business. Is this an ex-Belgian military model with the instruction tag riveted on the collar? Mike.
I feel tempted...... The pre heater is probably only missing the flame tube. They normally come with spirit cup and spirit dispenser so the build in pre heater is not really needed. Can't read the print on the collar but it looks like an ex-Belgian army one.
Go Wim! Hope you get it! I'll bet you're right about the preheat tube as the valve wheel and valve block is there. Mike.
Doesn't seem to be beyond repair so to speak. I just hope the missing parts (such as the handle) aren't specific to this very model!
It uses the same bail as a Coleman 236/237 so good news for that MIA part. The ballnut looks to be missing(?) but is bog standard Coleman with the vertical striations. An original fuel cap has the middle pressure release screw so while not at all bog standard, there are several collectors in the USA/Canada that have huge treasure troves of parts that regularly sell parts. Old Coleman Parts is closed for the coming week, but I'm sure Mike Merz would have some or know of a lead. Mike.
This is a crazy long shot, but there was a "238BG" listed in a Coleman catalogue with a pressure gauge. No examples have ever been found. I expect this is a cap/gauge from a P-max style lantern, but wouldn't it be cool if... Mike.
Have been there for so long now. I have a friend there and I was asking to do me a favor and buy it for me, but fortunately I’ve found a better one in much greater shape (at least esthetic) but still is not in my hands.
Ah well, the seller never took the trouble of answering my email..... So, over to plan B! As this is such a fine community, full of people willing to help each other I decided to get in touch with @Pau-i-amor and hey presto, to make a long story short, the lantern is now residing at mia casa since this afternoon! A very big Thank You Pau! Sorry folks, no photos yet, I have a problem with my (old) camera and my (very old) computer doesn't want to do business with my cell phone . Over all condition is not very good, something nasty happened to this lantern but nothing that will stop me from making this a working lantern again (I hope ) It is indeed one of the series made for the Belgian army (10/52). Some parts are missing or replaced with a wrong part (eg the fuel cap is changed for a Petromax one) but the biggest cost will be a new globe. I'll dismantle the poor thing completely to make sure all is well and do a test run. I'll keep you all informed! Cheerio, Wim
That's CPL at its best, Wim! I shall look forward to seeing the before shots and the finished product. I know you'll work your magic on it!
Good to hear its in safe hands. The Coleman 238B is not the most common of lanterns. At least the characteristic ribbed vaporizer is still there. That's one part that you won't find easily and its different from all other lanterns out there.
@Wim Great news, good to see the lantern in good hands. Looking forward to the photos. Enjoy. Cheers Pete
Thanks! I'll take some photos with my cell phone and try to find a way to get them on here. I've been looking out for a "user" one, not a shelf queen, for years. These were used by the Belgian army so that makes these all the more special for me. In the late 1950s they switched to Petromax(land army) and AIDA (air force, why the difference I don't know as the AIDA is also a Petromax with a different name on it!). I have a couple of these too so they will be nice companions (the stories they can tell each other! ) Wim
