whats a good single mantle kero burning lantern? looking for affordable older used model that can be easily worked on. what coleman models would fit the bill?
I like the Coleman 249, click on the link below to view this model, Jeff. http://www.classicpressurelamps.com/forum/showgallery.php?fid/222/
With my very limited knowledge of Coleman, I'd go for a 201. The 249 is a great lantern, but the generators are hard to come by now.
for the 300cp range - 249, 201 or 214 (from old to new) or even 247 if you find one they use the same generator as the 201. the 214 is a current running model. as for the 500cp range you can look for the 639 that still have a version sold today. another option you might want to consider if looking for a kerosene lantern as a user is converting the more common models to kerosene. if that is an option just say so and we will tell you what needed.
I think that you would be much better off with a 237. Coleman is still making generators for it. It's a big honkin' 500CP machine. They burn the best for long generator life with a 75/25 blend of kerosene/Coleman fuel, aka "Amish Blend". Slap a Peerless 111 mantle on it and you better get some "cheap sun glasses" to look at it. Plus 237s are still plentiful. The later versions of the kero burners are that stamped sheet metal frame burner. I like cast brass. But that's just MHO. Bob
Wow, thanks Guy's. I've got a lot of stoves but no lantern. I had a few coleman 200's and i liked them but i like kero better. trying to get up to speed on these. Can you switch a 200 over easily? if so i may try that. I also had a small 200 or 250 CP petromax clone that i sold before i got the lantern affliction. only ran the pre heater, thought it was neat but was afraid to light it after reading about the quality of them.
Converting a 200 to kerosene is a piece of cake what you need to buy is a 201 generator and 201 pre-heater cup. replace the gen and put the cup and there you have a kerosene 200
Yes that will work but you have to remember that a 200 is an Instant-Lite and when opening the valve you get air and fuel. To run on kero after pre heating you have to open the valve full so the air is shut off. A 200 will run on kero without a new generator but the burn should be much better with a 201 generator. ::Neil::
Hi nagant - The Coleman Model 237, as Bob described, is a large, very well built, Kerosene model that is easy to restore and maintain, with easy to find parts - depending on your region. there are quite a few out there to be found too, so for you to locate one, it shouldn't be too difficult. Good luck with your search. Best Regards, Chris W - Winnipeg, Canada
So far, I have only found two model 236's with Seafoam ventilators - a 1949 and a 1955, which I believe should both have Dark Green ventilators. I have come to believe at this time, the Seafoam ventilators were discontinued in Canada sometime around 1947, but I have no firm evidence as of yet. So far, I have not seen a Seafoam model 237 in my region. I'll check my records and confirm the cutoff date as I understand it. Chris W - Winnipeg
The cutoff, as I understand it, is somewhere around the end of 1947 and the beginning of 1948. Apparently, the combination of the enamel and/or the heat generated by these large models, caused the enamel to crack and spall, so many of the examples we find today have "replacement" ventilators, some of which are the wrong color for their respective years of manufacture. That's how I understand it, anyways. Seafoam ventilators are some of my favorite, and represent the 1930's and 1940's "oldtimers" to me - my favorite period for Canadian Coleman at the present time, and the ones I focus on to acquire examples of. You never know, Doron, what one is going to find out hunting in the "wild", so perhaps one will turn up here eventually. Chris W - Winnipeg, Canada
David Seafoam was a Canadian color for the vents a lighter more pastel green. When Wichita was stuck in its Green crisis Canada was exploding with red ,blue and sea foam colored lanterns. If you look down thru this column of Terry's site you can see the Canadian color difference http://tgmarsh.faculty.noctrl.edu/lantern/colelant3145.html
Not really. For me the better option is not to bugger around with a 200 but buy a Coleman Kero lantern. 241, 247, 249, 237 are all good easily fettled lanterns and old enough to be well made. There are enough of them around to make butchering a 200 not worth the trouble. ::Neil::
Is there a problem with the 201 that would cause you not to recommend it, Neil? I've got one from August 1979, right here on the desk in front of me and it seems like a solidly built little user-lantern, when I've time to give it the attention it seems to need - no pressure from the pump so it's probably got a dry leather in there...
Not at all, good little lanterns 201s. I just prefer the look of the older types. I can't remember if 201 has a steel tank though. I think it probably does and that might also make it less desirable to me. Got one here somewhere and it certainly works very well. ::Neil::
Yes, a steel tank - mine has a couple of small patches of surface rust on the underside where the paint has been chipped. Also some slight unevenness of the paint on the top of the tank which I hope isn't the result of minor rusting beneath. I might just have a fiddle around with it tonight - I could do with a little 'lantern-therapy' at the moment...
Now that the auction is over, if you can get a good deal on one of these like this buyer did, you'll be in "tall cotton". These kits if complete are just what the Dr. ordered. August 1960 829B lantern and case Bob
Well, all it needed was the pump leather splaying out a bit. I fitted a mantle and fuelled it up - et voila! Typical modern Coleman, really - bright as you like, no fuss at all and runs for hours with no attention beyond the odd few pump-strokes. It's running on end-of-season Wilkinson's barbeque lighter fluid... As you say Neil, it looks a bit modern and let down somewhat by the steel tank. Notwithstanding that, this may well become my user-lantern of choice for the next few months...
I have not run one for a long time but they do work well. I prefer older types because they look better to me and are generally better made or have better materials such as brass for the tanks. Can't really blame the companies though. They do have to try to stay in business and to that end have had to make cheaper products. What I do deplore is bad engineering design which is why I slate the post 1957 Tilley product. Even the X246B would be an accceptable lantern if they would just reverse the base plate. At least "modern" Coleman product will still stand 120 psi so cheaper design yes but still good engineering. ::Neil::
Hi Nagant, These guys know alot more about lanterns than I, but a 237 or 214 would be prett easy finds if you look. I know its newer and not as well built as the 201 but I sure love my 214 kero. I bought it new and had a fit with the generator but once I figured it out it has become one of my favorite users. The 237 on the other hand is also a favorite and is built like a brick $hithouse. The light output is amazing and Bob was 100% right on the amish blend. I was real lucky and scored this one from a Amish dealer as it was in his parts pile of lanterns and needed a vent stud. $20 later and some cleaning and it runs like a top. I'm going to try a 242C kero conversion soon too. Good luck on your hunt! Dan
Notice gents that Dan had to shoot the image of his 237 burning from the TOP. If you put an older 1111 HiPower or a Peerless 111 mantle on a 237, they are just plain BLINDING! They tend to overload the camera's receptor. Bob
just bought a petromax 829/500 rapid. not sure how old but at least 20 years+. pretty rough but will be fun to see if i can get it going.
They are well made lanterns and the light output is excellent and spares are easily obtained. Do remember to only use Paraffin (Kerosene) for fuel, Jeff.
Dan: Several weeks ago I completed a Coleman 242C conversion to kerosene / paraffin. I used a 201 generator and one of the 249 cups on e-Bay. The lantern runs well. It seemed to have a slightly "yellower" light than the brilliant while light of the regular 242, but I wasn't running the gasoline lantern at the time to compare. I may try the same experiment on a 200A. Paul
Thanks Paul . I will eventually give the 242C a try as I have tried the 200A and though it burned OK, I wasn't overly impressed. I might suggest trying a different size mantle with your conversion as you may get a better light from it. A Lantern Pro who frequents this forum (Thanks Doc) also recommends what he calls an Amish blend of 80% Kero 20% Coleman Fuel so I know I will be trying that out on my 242C conversion as well. I sure love the kero and am trying to find one of those cool Petromax Army kits that are common only to Germany ebay. My 237 burns so awesome and I'm hoping a petromax is just as good . Have a good evening, Dan
Hi Dan, Mix up a small batch of 75/25 and 65/35 Kero/Coleman and see if the mantle brightens. I have gone to 65/35 for cleaner burn. It will also lean out the fuel mix. Shorten the carbon chain. Play with gas tip sizes too for these conversions. There are a few good deals on the 829B lanterns with the cases/spares on the German eBay right now. The issue is finding a seller that does or convincing one to let you bid and will ship overseas. Bob
