Hi, Acquired Coleman 242B and I was really surprised as it came with preheating cup. I though this should be a gasoline lamp? Also the "pricker lifter" is fixed with a Primus knob (on the left in the first picture). How to double check what's the right fuel for this lamp? Secondly, there's no other marking at the bottom of this lamp than what's visible in the picture below. How to define production date to this lantern? Cheers!
@TommiL nice lamp, the preheater cup I'm fairly certain isn't original, doesn't look right sat on top of the wing nut in the middle. Production year is 1939, see the number below the word "night" on the tank stamp. The month of manufacturing will be on the left hand side of that stamp under "The".
@TommiL Is it possible that the lantern has been converted for use with Kerosene? It is a relatively easy modification carried out quite often here in the US...a little investigation of the generator may be required
@Matthew92 Thanks for clarification. I was looking at the production date at the bottom of the lamp @sjc Does these pictures provide any further clarity?
@TommiL 1. There might be a number or letter on the tip (jet) of the vapouriser (generator). 2. What is inside the vapouriser (generator) besides the cleaning rod/needle? Cheers Tony
@TommiL The generator looks too small in diameter for kerosene. I would suggest Gasoline / naphtha. But as @sjc suggests. check the generator.
@Tony Press 1) there's no jet at all (!!) 2) there's nothing inside, just "straight" pipe Anyway, the lamp is not in working condition at all. Also the other air intake pipe (the right hand one) is blocked with mesh-like thing (as visible in picture). I wonder why... I'd like to return the lamp as original as possible. I noticed T66 generator replacements are still available, will go for that and return the lamp back to gasoline one.
@TommiL Someone has not treated that lantern very well! Yes, returning to gasoline would be the way to go. They are a fine old lantern. Tony
From memory... there are 242x (Coleman Fuel / Naptha) and 242K (Kerosene) models...the only real difference for the Kerosene model is the addition of a spirit cup and a T66K generator rather than a T66. This is a very simple conversion, done many many times over the years. Typically, Coleman generators for Coleman fuel / Naptha have a filter in them that tends to clog very quickly if attempted to be used with other fuels. Generators... T66 equivalent is a 200A5891 T66K equivalent is a 201B5891 Scott
With that primus knob on there - it looks like someone tried to make it look like at 242K. With the other modifications taken into consideration - I would pull the valve assembly off the fount and see if the fuel air tube was modified as well. Some people when converting from Coleman fuel to kerosene will remove the fuel air tube spring and rod and snip off the end to make just a brass hollow tube - as the kerosene fuel pickup is. If the spring and rod have been removed, then using the lantern with Coleman fuel will still require a pre-heat. As soon as the valve is opened - 100% fuel will come up the from fount.
@giri Looks like this is exactly the case. I'm anyway in process of converting it back to gasoline lamp.
242's gasoline lanterns are equipped with a fuel/air pickup tube, kerosene versions are not. They have a straight fuel pickup tube. You can just let the f/a tube in place though. These can be a little bit of a PIA to remove. You have to be care you don't twist the fond where the pickup tube comes out.
