My Coleman 242 is one of those ones that you buy but know its real rough and probably just for parts. Then you reconsider and this is one of those. An owner before me silver brazed just about everything and left holes in the cage base. The vent was also full of holes and looked dodgy but lo and behold it fired up nicely but leaked a bit. Ok so I put it away for over 15 years and finally got it out recently to clean it up a bit. I am pleased with how well it runs so it is now a favourite despite a few rough edges. The mantle was a real cheap wired type for testing. It'll now get a better one. The Coleman 242 has many interesting features such as a different shaped bail, a vent that normally has no ball nut and two holes for the bail, a pump cup that has a metal cylindrical support, a fine grooved valve wheel that has Coleman on it compared to later ones with just ‘Close and an arrow’. Other aspects are that the model came with a straight sided heat resistant globe, the vent is smaller (4 5/8”) than that on other 240 series lanterns and has one less row of perforated holes, the pump cap has only one round head screw as the pump tube does not stick out as far as on later models, the burner is marked 3000 but has no datum targets. Then there is the pump which is not bayonet locking and indeed has a real NRV. Lastly, there is no model number on it but some, like mine did have instructions stamped into the collar (base rest). Oh and the insides are the cleanest I have seen for such an old unit. Here are some pictures: The valve wheel has Coleman on it as well as the usual Close and arrow. The pump is a plain rod and a real NRV is also present. The fuel air fitting inside the very clean fount. The smaller 4 5/8" vent has a rod that fits into this recess on top of the burner. Probably not the original fitting as there is a nut on top which shouldn't be there but the bolt fits the above mentioned recess. There is no ball nut on this 242. How it looked when I first obtained it. The underside of the cage base. A 3 stamped on the base of the fount. Perhaps lucky 3. Thanks for looking
Thanks for the detail, Iain. I like these early Coleman 242s. EDIT: @Sedgman I’ve just noticed that your three “3” stampings are the same as mine here: Coleman 242 (Canada; 1933) [Ignore the fact that I at first mistook my sideways 3 for the number 10]. Tony
That's an early one. Produced just a year after the 1932 patent. From the appearance and past repairs, I would strongly feel that its going to run no matter how rough it gets. Some lanterns are somehow destined to continue running despite their age and conditions.
Thanks @JEFF JOHNSON , @MYN , @ROBBO55 and @Tony Press for the kind comments. That is quite uncanny, thanks for pointing that out.
