In December last year I was given this Coleman 238B by a very kind retired gentleman whose father had bought it new when he was a child. When I examined it and compared it to photos of other 238B's I noticed some significan differences: -It uses the 237 generator rather than 238B generator as is indicated on the collar. The valve is thus also different to suit the generator. -It has a Petromax style ceramic burner (like the Col-Max) -The aluminium base plate is cut out only for the generator and pre-heat torch rather than a big circular cut-out and a round steel mounting plate. -The bail stops on the burner cage top ring are positioned 90 degrees away from the bridge/bracket rather than close to it. -It has a 249-style alcohol pre-heat cup (although this may possibly have been added later) According to Neil, this is the only known 238B with these differences and may have been an early prototype or a one-off. I finished fettling and cleaning the lantern yesterday and ran it for about 5 hours last night and I'm happy to say that it performed flawlessly :-)
Great job! These are so hard to find and when you do find one for sale it requires you to re-mortgage your house to pay for it!
Hi Tony, it was made in Canada. George, I think I'll keep and enjoy this one and won't sell it until I move into frail care one day. There was a 238B that went for quite a handsome sum on ebay on 31 Dec.
Yes I was aware of this one. It has to be correct as only the factory would have made that embossed collar with the generator number. It is the only example I know of which is strange because whilst the model is rare enough examples have been found to expect any variations to have surfaced by now. It must have been exported which means it is not likely to be a prototype or a one off. Perhaps one of a short run special contract for a single customer. We may never know and we may never see another. An important and very interesting find. ::Neil::
I just acquired a second (incomplete) 238B and discovered a few more differences between the one posted above and the "standard" model: The standard model has a U-tube like the 200A and a burner tube that threads into it with a nut to lock it onto the frame from below to secure the vent stud bracket. The vent stud bracket also has a round hole and is not slotted as this one is. Note the spacer tube, the threaded U or J tube, the mixing chamber and the nut which sits above the burner frame to secure the vent bracket from the top.
Thanks, Mike! Forgot to mention that the teardrop shaped hole in the air tube into which the end of the 237-299 generator fits is smaller than the "standard" hole for the 238B-299 generator:
Hi Tony, yes both from here. One is the standard model that is well represented in the Gallery and the other is my odd-ball.
Phil I checked out my Coleman 238B and now realise why its in the "I'll get to it later" pile. It's got no fuel control spindle/whee/packing nut. Do you think one can be filched from another Coleman? Tony @phaedrus42
@Tony Press , I just checked and the packing nut is a common Coleman part as on 237 and 220F. The Col-Max wheel and disc are identical in shape and fit. I think one should be able to machine a 220F spindle to the correct dimensions and shape. A common Petromax clone valve wheel and spindle nut will fit perfectly.
I've a feeling this rare model could had been meant to compete with popular European lanterns with similarly designed burner and control assemblies, i.e. Primus, Petromax, etc.
Phil thank you for presenting such and interesting and different lantern. She runs well and looks to be in very good shape indeed. Cheers, Norman
