Hello everyone, this photo shows my Coleman Q lamps. I thought that it would be fine to see all of these siblings together for a change. I was not sure where to post them, hence I chose the open forum, Jeff.
Nice. 4 classics and one that will have quite a few guys drooling. Great to see them together. Do they all run or have you not tried them all on kero. ::Neil::
Hello Neil, they all hold pressure and I did at one time fit the LQ., and the CQ., with R55 generators, so that paraffin (kerosene) could be used. But the results were disapointing, as these lamps were designed to use petrol (gasoline) and that's what they like. Jeff.
"All systems indicate drooling sir!" Maybe some day a HQ will mysteriously show itself. I think I have a better chance at a wagon load of rocking horse droppings appearing. Bob
Hello David, after experimenting with different early Coleman burners and discussing said experiments with other collectors. I came to the conclusion, that the early Coleman burner which is designed for petrol (gasoline), has a different size of mixing chamber and that size of chamber is not completely compatible with paraffin (kerosene). If anyone can disprove this theory, then I shall be glad to hear how. Also that R55 generator is fine with petrol, but when paraffin is being used, the pricker has to be operated about every 10 to 15 minutes, which is a pain.
Jeff. Yes that is correct. The kero burner tubes have a restrictor fitted inside. Almost impossible to see but if you look at the back of a burner for 168K you will see there are two very small dimples in the main tube one below the cross head and one just above the second crank. These are to hold in place a thin wall extra tube inserted inside the top end of the gasoline burner tube to change the mixture for kero. ::Neil::
Hello Neil, thanks for the information and that confirms my conclusion too, it's fine to be correct for a change! One more point, the petrol which those early Coleman burners were designed for, was far different than the petrol which is currently available, Jeff.
Hi Jeff: Very nice collection of some cool and unusual old Colemans. Nice to see them all together. Mike...
Hello Mike, the Coleman UK., sales team must have worked hard, to get the whole of the UK., covered by Coleman agents. The first link below, shows an article which was printed in 1937, but it states that Coleman UK., was set up 16 years ealier, (1921). The second link shows a 1922 advert for a Coleman agent in Shetland. Shetland is the most northerly part of the UK., and Coleman had an agent here, 1 year after they set up their UK., branch, that's good going! Jeff. http://classicpressurelamps.com/index.php?threads/790 http://classicpressurelamps.com/index.php?threads/796
Jeff, what I meant was, if they're designed for burning gasoline, then why don't you simply put something more gasoline-like than paraffin (kerosene) in them..?
Hi Jeff, in what way does the 'old' petrol differ from the 'new'? Volatillity? I suppose the old Coleman burners will happily burn panel wipe or Aspen4? Best regards, Wim
Hello Wim, I'm not an expert on fuels, but the old petrol/gasoline did not have all of the additives in it which modern fuel has. Perhaps someone else can give a more technical answer. I have been told that Coleman fuel burns well in the old Coleman burners, but I have not tried it, because it's so expensive in the UK.. I cannot advise on alternative fuels. Jeff.
Hi Jeff, I was thinking along the same lines. Modern fuels are kept far away from any of my stoves & lanterns that run on petrol, only panel wipe or Aspen4 are used. So, it should be no problem at all to use those 2 in older Coleman aparatus. Best regards, Wim
Panel wipe from your friendly local motor factor - assuming you have those up there of course! If not, try Bergen... Don't know about Aspen 4T because I've never used it, but apparently some garden power tool dealers stock the stuff because it's intended for use in lawnmowers, chainsaws, strimmers and the like. If you Google it, the Aspen website has a list of dealers although, again, who knows where the nearest is to you...
Hi jeff if you go down the panel wipe route there are two type out there you want to try to get the naptha based one its the best the other works but only use this stuff with plenty of ventilation. Me and mick often mix this stuff up to 20% with the parrafin and you can see the difference in the light output of a lamp we have had no problems as yet with vapourisers doing this. The ASPEN 4T is pure petrol so i believe no additives burns hotter than panel wipe i reckon i use this in petrol lamps and stoves tho not so widely available cheers pete
Hello Pete, that's sound advice! My late paternal Grandfather used to mix a little petrol with the paraffin for the Tilley lamp during the second world war. This was because the wartime paraffin was of poorer quality and did not give such a good light, he claimed that the added petrol cured the problem and I'm sure that it did. Jeff.
Hi Jeff, I see David has been so kind to answer your question! In Belgium we can buy panelwipe in most all DIY stores, and I am lucky to have 2 places that sell professional gardening machines (and Aspen fuel) within 5 miles from my home. Both PW and Aspen are cheaper than Coleman fuel over here. Best regards, Wim PS., re the mixing of 10-20% of PW with paraffin, I think that's popular amongst the Amish? Sounds like a good trick when using paraffin in cold conditions.
Hello Wim, currently I will continue to just use paraffin/kerosene, but I will try to find a local source for that panel wipe, Jeff.
Hi Jeff, you could also try a company that sells paint or garage supplies (PW is used a lot for degreasing panels etc. before painting). Best regards, Wim
I'm not sure what your second type is, Pete, but there's also the water-based version of panel wipe. Now I have it on the very best authority that this, apparently, doesn't burn very well...
Hi dave no reckon a water based one would be kinda hard to light!!! the other one works think its HEXAMINE\XYLENE suppose i spelt it wrong but naptha is the correct one to use here cheers pete
Wim. When I visit Holland I buy Wasbenzine from local supermarkets at about €1.30 a litre. This is excellent fuel and much cheaper than anything I can buy in the UK. I think you can buy the same stuff in French shops and probably in Belgium as well. Earlier this year I came home with about 40 litres of it. ::Neil::
Like Jeff, I am reluctant to use " Gasoline ". My mind wanders to the " what if " scenario and all the repercussions. A local product in Oz is Shellite or Naptha as you probably now it. I use this mainly for " Gasoline " with no problems. Colin
