I found this lantern on Saturday. As a Coleman collector, I am not familiar with how to operate this lantern. Are there instructions on this forum or can someone please provide them? Thank you in advance.
Coleman made a lantern that works just like these small Optimus lanterns. They light the same way as Coleman 241. Mind you I guess they are not at all common in the US so perhaps you have not found one of those. PT me and I can send you a PDF instruction leaflet. ::Neil::
Operating is pretty straightforward. This is how I do (paraffin in the tank and a burned in mantle mounted, of course): -Make sure the air release screw is opened. -Make sure the cleaning needle is in the lowered position. -Fill the meths cup to the brim, and light the alcohol. -Wait until the meths has almost expired. -Close the air release screw. -Give the lantern some pump strokes. It varies how many, but just give it a bunch of strokes, and the mantle shall start to light. -Give it some more pressure, and continue until the lantern is in full light, or until you are satisfied with the output. (Operate the cleaning needle if needed.) I might add that the little tank on these will get very hot after a while. Nothing to worry about. It's normal.
Thank you for the information. I presume you shut it off by carefully releasing the pressure with the screw?
