Hi all. I’ve just recently started my journey with fuel lanterns and stoves. I managed to get a 94 Coleman 285 duel fuel lantern in excellent condition. Only one problem I can see, is the lack of availability of mantles in Australia. There’s plenty on line in the USA but at $30 + for postage it’s a bit prohibitive. Are there supplies available anywhere in OZ.
Welcome @Rob white - I get my favourite mantles for coleman two mantle lanterns from NZ. - I buy the Peerless 2C-HG. 12NZD shipping to Oz. Free if you buy enough of them Gas mantles for Coleman Tilley & all kerosene pressure lamps Otherwise Ebay can sometimes be helpful. Many of us buy the super-cheap Chinese one for testing out lanterns before using up better quality ones.
Welcome, @Rob white. I buy my Coleman type mantles from Just Mantles (NZ). Also, TW Sands in Melbourne stocks very good mantles for Tilley and many other makes (including Coleman). Cheers Tony
Wow Thanks for your responses. I can finally look forward to using it. im starting to wonder if things are turning around a bit and people are starting to turn away from mass produced cheap products. I see a resurgence of people starting to value old time objects, when things were made buy skilled workers. I think the younger set and us retreads are wanting quality long lasting things back in our lives. I’ve always loved well made products. I’ve owned pre 70s Volkswagens all my life and still own a 56 beetle, I recently pulled out my old 1968 Pentax Spotmatic film camera and have started shooting film again. I regularly play vinyl records on my 70s Hi fi unit, I use a 40s wind up wrist watch each day, vintage bicycles. It goes on and on. My point is all this stuff still exists and functions decades or even centuries after it was made. And you get to use something your father and grandfather and possibly great grandfather had in their hands. I love my lamp as my children will after I’m gone. Thanks for your help, I’m glad I found your community. Rob…
Riding good quality vintage bikes is an interesting trend. It seemed that titanium and carbon fibre would make steel obsolete (and there is no denying that some aspects of modern bike designs are just great) but there is recognition of the disadvantages too. Hence the ‘steel is real’ movement that is highlighting the comfort level and value for money provided by the old steel frame bikes…
I have to agree. I have one of the last Dawes bicycles made in the UK using reynolds steel tubing. I bought it new in 1998 (don't believe Wikipedia) . I still use it every year, and it still looks great. I am however on the lookout for a 1920's "something" to fix to my carbide lamp..
Yes Lighting on my old bikes is dynamo or D cell battery (re chargeable ) bulbs upgraded to halogen, I find it acceptable. Fireexit1 it was a beautiful Dawes Galaxy I saw at a charity ride that inspired me to look for an early English tourer, I found a 78 Claud Butler Majestic I acquired from an English expat living in Byron Bay. It was quite tired so I restored it to as new condition, it’s now my daily rider, I have 8 bikes ranging from the late forties up to 83. I have period Carradice or Karrimor bags for them, and brooks saddles on the older bikes, San Marco Rolls on the 80s. I’m so glad those manufacturers are still in business, still making quality products. The French saddle maker Ideal has been bought by a young fellow and has started producing them again he has a lot of the old factory’s equipment and has been given a lot of help from the original factory employees. Like I said, there seems to be a resurgence of people wanting things of great quality and things that if taken care of can be passed down. It warms my heart to see these small business able to survive, I’ll keep buying from them, their products are wonderful. The price of lamps here is quite high and they always seem to be sold quite quickly so I think the collection of them here is obviously healthy I just wish there was an Australian mantle manufacturer.
Hi mate, In general you are correct, depending on where you are buying them from, but there are still plenty of bargains out there, it's just knowing where to find them. Here is one for example, I got this lamp in November 2023. Tilley X246 Guardsman December 1956 (speculum plated) I also saw a Tilley EX100 for $35, they dropped the price to $25, just last week.
Hi Buggerlugs That looks very nice. I’ll keep my eyes open at garage sales now. Are pressure stoves a thing on this forum, there’s some very nice old stoves around.
There is a sister site for them, scroll down the front page and you will see the link. I'm not a member, but plenty of people are on both sites. Also you can ask questions on the Open Forum. Thanks fot the comment as well.
