The title is probably over-selling the situation. It's likely that what's happening is that at least one of Peerless's suppliers/factories isn't using Thorium all the time. Regardless, I just bought this pack of 2C-HG Peerless mantles at the local hardware store. The package is labeled "Made for European and American Markets" on the front and the back says it's manufactured in India by "indo auerlicht manufacturing company" (lack of capitalization matching the packet). When installed, these mantles burned dim and very yellow compared to current-production off-the-shelf Coleman mantles bought recently at WalMart. Given the hype about how good Peerless mantles are, I was surprised at the poor performance. Today, I took the mantles to the Environmental Health and Safety office at the local university who used a radiation survey meter to see if there was actually any Thorium in the mantles. Sadly, the mantles were dead cold, no Thorium. So just because you're buying Peerless mantles you're not guaranteed to get anything better than (or even as good as!) WalMart-bought current production Coleman mantles anymore.
I bought Peerless direct from the U.S. distributor knowing they were yttrium, but I wanted to see how yellow they would burn and they burned very yellow. I also tested Just Mantles of New Zealand thorium Peerless but I can't remember how they burned , I think they were better than the yttrium ones though. I think Peerless will be one of the few mantles companies in existence and I hope they improve the mantle , its rugged enough just not white enough, that pronounced yellow tint bothers me. Indian made Fargo mantles have been sold on ebay in lots of 100 for a while now, they are old stock some one is liquidating . They are truly thorium mantles and burn nicely white.
Hmmm here's a video from Kurt at Lantern Lab which clears things up a bit. So according to him American Mantle sells the yytrium while Peerless Distribution owned by Sam Blank sells the thorium mantles but both are labeled " for the American and European Markets. Just to figure out how to get the Sam Blank's and we are good. New Manufacture Peerless Mantles, are they any good? - YouTube
Just a question: how did Kurt determine that there Yttrium or Thorium was used ? Since there is debate about who sells what, that would be my first test. As for the test itself. I can see a difference in shape. Which will cause differences in how you determine the light output. Again no measurements with for instance, a lux meter. Just looking at mantles can be very deceiving I guess as which is brighter.
Kurt just probably doesn't have a Geiger counter or light meter few people do. lol The only thing I can see is that American Mantle/ Auerlict that distributes Peerless sells yttrium mantles and have the exclusive American rights to do so from the new Indian owned Peerless. When I looked up Peerless Distribution/Sam Blank its listed as located in Quarryville Pennsylvania , Amish country. So it maybe that PD is actually an Amish business selling thorium mantles and Sam Blank apparently owned the old Philippine Peerless is still able to have his thorium mantles made by the Indians and sell under the Peerless name . A couple of posts at CCF say you can contact PD/Sam Blank for bulk buying presumably of thorium Peerless. This is just speculation on my part.
I emailed Peerless Distribution at an address listed at CCF by a member and was told that Peerless Distribution does wholesale sales of thorium mantles and I was directed to 2 retailers including Leacock Coleman Center an Amish retailer for retail purchase. Just a guess but I think Peerless Distribution is an Amish company owned by an Amish man, Sam Blank who until 2007 was Gasman Mantle Manufacturing of the Philippines maker of the legendary Philippines Peerless thorium mantle. 2007 is also listed as the start date of Peerless Distribution Co. located in Quarryville Penn. Amish country. Here in North America the American Mantle Company distributes yttrium and Peerless Distribution sells the thorium Peerless. So its not differing batches or production changes of the Peerless mantles that's causing confusion but what wholesale seller the retailer uses. One ebay seller has thorium Peerless mantles for sale and he is buying them from Peerless Distribution instead of American Mantle as an example but the Peerless packaging is identical creating confusion. That ebay seller knows he is getting thorium mantles because he is buying them from the only North American source for the thorium mantles, Peerless Distribution. I don't know anything for sure just guess work on my part.
I posted this previously over at CCF, but didn't see this thread until now. I spoke with Sam at the Gettysburg gathering and he said that all of the Peerless mantles his dealers get are thorium. Examples of his dealers are Old Coleman Parts, HC Lanterns, and Peak Distribution. If you want yttrium mantles, you can get those from American Mantle. This is in the US of course.
