The perfect lantern

Im going to have to turn you down there David What models are they? Is there a thread covering your issues? If so can you give me a link?

 

I realize that it would probably not be easy to get any decent earnings out of such a project, but it would have many other good aspects. For me, it would be a fun process to be part of, and simply being able to deliver a few of these to the few who wanted them would be a thrill

But the other side of it is just as good: every time a model is mentioned, someone can tell how it doesn't work well in this or that respect. I like the idea of turning it around and see if we can identify all the things that actually do work well - and even though they might not all be found in one and the same lantern, then maybe they could together make up a complete new "best lantern" design.

And it could be interesting to see if there were some topics that all the clever engineers and designers of the past never found a good solution for. David mentioned the hot handle - and actually, several instruction guides tell that you should not move the lantern while lit! I guess that limits the value of a lantern somewhat, so maybe there exists a better solution, or maybe we can together think of one?

In a real product design process we would need to start out with defining a target group, a target purpose, and a target price. And we would need to accept many trade-offs in order to make a product that fit these targets. But we are lucky, because this is not a real product design process! We are instead picking the best of what is already there - thereby showing respect to all those who during about a century got good ideas in a field that has almost disappeared. And maybe we can then bring the best ideas into a final hall of fame in the shape of the best pressure lantern ever designed.

 

Expat,

You need one of Stu's or Kerry's preheaters!

I also fiddle around with kero stoves; and live in the roaring 40s. Even "full length glass" lanterns suffer pre-heating problems on my verandah. When it's really blowing a gale, I use a cheap "ten plate" aluminium windshield (for a camp stove) and wrap that around my lamps while I preheat. It works a treat.

Cheers

Tony

 

Tony, good point - although I tend to not have one of those windshields to hand unless I have my stove bag with me! I will have to check out those super duper preheaters!

Jorgen, I think we need some of our resident experts and engineers to comment

 

Certainly - one thing is the wishes and feelings of lantern users, another is the sound and sane view of a professional

 

Going to have to agree with Phaedrus. Coleman 237. 1 rubber seal on the cap and graphite packing that lasts for ages along with the NRV. If I didnt care about seals and went for a tool-less design I like my Vapalux M1. Kerosene seems the way to go since it keeps well but just needs that darn preheater.

 

I would like one that pre heated using the vaporising technique of electronic cigarettes with the waste heat driving the pressure pump.

 

What I like about the Primus 1020 is how simple and robust the design is. All the patents must have expired decades ago. With modern materials and manufacturing techniques it should be feasible to produce derivatives at modest cost, perhaps with an integrated preheat cup that uses kerosene from the fount and a one piece air tube.

 

I wonder if it would be possible to build a lantern that had two separate fuel tanks (or a single tank divided in two). CF goes in one tank, kero in the other. CF would be used to instant light the lantern and once it was hot and running a valve used to switch from the CF to the kero.

 

I've guessed anything is possible since they put man on the moon.

I suspect if everyone's pre-requisites were built into the 'perfect lamp', the question would be - would there be enough consumers that could afford it

 

To me, pre-heating is not a problem at all... It's part of the ritual of lighting a lamp or stove. If I wanted instant light, I would choose electricity.

The more moving parts, the more that can go wrong.

Cheers

Tony

 

Precisely.

You'd think some folk hadn't two minutes left to live...

 

Interesting idea with two fuel tanks - could probably be done in a similar way to how Tilley's pump unit is mounted in the tank, simply a complete extra tank unit attached to/inside the main unit.

Btw., something that hasn't been mentioned so far: you need a match or similar to ignite the lamp, but why not add such an electronic spark maker as found in the modern gas lamps? It can cost only a little and will make using the lantern a bit easier.

 

The whole point of rapid preheaters, Instant and Quik-Lite, Tillite(?) preheaters etc. was to save carrying two lots of fuel about.

These have been available for years on the likes of the Coleman NorthStar. Even flint spark units have been similarly available for decades as aftermarket add-ons...

 

Looks like there should be two models: "Easy" and "Classic"

Common features:
* Paraffin/kerosene based - can work on the new biological fuels
* Good looks
* Easy to maintain
* Easy to clean
* Will not poor ashes, fuel, and other dirt over the floor (stays inside the lantern until cleaning)
* Adjustable strength of light
* Easy adjustment
* Only consists of few parts - simple
* As few rubber parts/washers as possible
* Burner nozzle not ceramic
* One-piece air tube?
* Wide availability of parts
* Prevents black-mantle disease
* Carrying handle does not get too hot
* Reliable
* Can be stored for a long time and still work
* Solid build quality
* Low and wide, "cannot tilt"
* Modification to cooker possible
* (Modification to heater possible)

"Easy":
* Simple preheating mechanism using the main fuel (concept like electronic cigarettes?)
* Electronic ignition
* Hood in one piece, metal only
* Perhaps two-step lighting where preheating can be used as a light on its own
* Tool-less design

"Classic":
* Nostalgic preheating
* External windshield included, to assist when preheating?
* Two-piece hood, top part enameled, replaceable

Technical inspiration:
* Pump in one replaceable unit, like Tilley
* Vapouriser like Primus 1020? Or like old Tilley
* Hood like Petromax or old Vapalux 300?/Optimus? (depending on model)

 

Hmm, this is all very well but I suspect the only thing we'll all ever agree on is that the perfect lantern isn't the Veritas Superb...

 

PL53 - reliable, easy to service & damn good looking.

 

James, a twin tank design leaves the potential for a mix up which could be very bad! Also I imagine that having a switch over functionality would increase the complexity significantly.

Jorgen, nice list However, would spark ingnition work with paraffin?

Lol! How true!!

 

That is a good question - if the paraffin is mixed with air, like in the blowtorch-like Petromax pre-heater, then i would assume so. But I am sure that there in any case can be found such a solution or similar.

 

Well, the idea with carrying two fuels in one lantern isn't new.
I know atleast Primus did it, and I'm sure there are others.
The 1051 used a little wick torch to preheat the lantern, and that torch was screwed into an integrated well that you were supposed to fill with alcohol.
Check out.

Regarding the original question about a perfect lantern, I'd say the old Coleman 327 quick-lite models must be close to that criteria.
They don't get much better than those, which is impressive considering the age of them.

Another good candidate has already been mentioned; the Primus 1020 (and the rest with that burner).
They don't get much simpler than those (except for the Coleman mentioned above), and simplicity is generally the best.
A good lantern shall have a solid and simple vapouriser that is easy to clean, and the jet shall be exchangable separately, just as the cleaning needle when one of those are used/needed.

 

In a 'should've gone to Specsavers' sort of way, perhaps...

 

Harsh, Mr Shouksmith. Very harsh.

 

Optimus lanterns for me nothing else comes close

 

Yes, Coleman, Optimus, Vapalux, Petromax, Tilley - they are all best

No doubt that we all have our favorites among the existing lanterns. But since they cannot all be best, I wonder if each of these favorites could be dissected and each component evaluated by itself?

The Coleman 327, for instance: Does it have the best of all hoods? The best cage? The best pump? The best fount? Etc.

Because, even if it really is the best lantern ever made, there still might be one or two details on it that lacks behind some other lantern. And when defining the very best of all possible lanterns, then perhaps some of the parts would come from the Coleman 327 but other parts from other lanterns.

When constructing a new best lantern the old ones are still there to make us smile. But a new one could allow us to smile even more.

 

A fount that won't rust through, crack or bulge would be a good first step. These are currently the bane of my hobby-life.
Then what about a non-return valve that extracts and services easily without special tools.

 

I've sometimes dreamed of a lantern with a electric fuel pump and a fuel injector into a combined vapouriser/burner, an O2 sensor in the hood with a CPU to keep it all optimised.

Possibly over implicating life a bit though.

 

This is getting somewhere in the direction of a modern Diesel engine. But, honestly, maybe that can be done in a reasonable way. Then the fount can be made simpler, as it doesn't need to be pressurized, and the manual pump is not needed anymore. The electricity may be produced in the same way as the lamp radio mentioned in another thread.

That is what Tilley have. Almost, as it still needs some kind of tool for the small nut inside, but that could be replaced with a finger-friendly type.

 

Ditch the electric fuel pump and fit an electric bulb instead.

OR simply fit LEDs instead of the bulb and to save trailing mains wires, use freely available rechargeable cells.

I think we could be onto something here...

 

Is that possible? That would be really cool 8)

 

Yes, and just think how economical it would be on fuel!