General Coleman Lantern Questions

[Ratkity]

I've been watching and reading ya'lls posts about Coleman lanterns with great interest and have a few questions:

What are the most coveted Coleman lanterns, the nickle ones? the 200A?

What makes the 200A seemingly a favored lantern on this forum?

Is a turd Coleman referred to as such because it's brown?

I noticed some mica glass in some very old lanterns. What years were those glass inserts made?

Do each series have different globes?

Thanks for your patience!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[hotrod]

I never considered them any more special than any other old coleman lantern BUT Im fond of single mantle nickle tank models.
The 200 series single mantles pack well in our teardrop campers.. turds are brown, yup!
I am searching for a professional model..nickle tank, big hat type..then I will be done.. (help, i cannot stop)
My favorite lantern is the one that hung in my grandparents house before they got electricity, its got alotta miles on it but oooh my the things that lantern has seen and the people who have used it, the places it has been, mind boggling..

[rainjer]

The 200A is the most common model I would say. It was made from 1951 thru 1983.

The 242 series is a good looking lantern and a workhorse.

the 275 & 275A are called turd because of the color and poor quality.

For me, I think the most sot after lanterns are:
1- the Arc Lantern

2- 1951 200A Christmas lanterns

3- 1961 200A Burgandy

4- 1953 200A Black Band

5- A 236

6- and this monster:


This page will show you when the lanterns were made:
http://web.archive.org/web/200806181745 ... models.htm

This page will show you lots of pictures:
http://terrence.marsh.faculty.noctrl.ed ... /index.htm

Jeremy

[Zollinger]

To me the appeal with Coleman lanterns is that they can be found just about anywhere, and I also like taking them apart re-doing them. They can be somewhat frustrating when they don't work. Besides this 'old broad likes collecting old camping equipment that go's with my vintage camper.

[Ratkity]

Rain, I can't see any of your pictures, but I went to the links you listed.

The pictures and explanations are cool!

So what would you recommend for a TD person who likes the mellow light of a single mantle, small size, black, red or nickle color?

Oh.. follow up turd question.. are those the 621 or 625? or are they any brown lantern?

Thanks!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[rainjer]

For a user I would get a red 200A or a 242C. They are common and fairly cheap. Parts are easy to get. They use the same globe and you can get different color globes to fit them. I use a yellow globe. It does not attract bugs & is a little easier on the eyes.

The "turd" only applies to 275 /275A.

Jeremy

[High Desert]

....I noticed some mica glass in some very old lanterns. What years were those glass inserts made?

Do each series have different globes?

The mica globes were fairly common into the 1930's, Coleman had a way of phasing things in and out over the course of time. Reproduction ones can still be had if a person wants one.

Often a style of globe will interchange on multiple series. Probably another cost control method, the old Coleman company was very frugal in many respects and seems to have found ways to use everything they produced in some fashion. It makes things interesting for those of us with the affliction, finding all the subtle changes over time.

[godskid]

How easy is it to (a) buy and (b) use the kind of fuel these lanterns require? So far, I've used just battery lanterns. I'm a sissy.

Deb

[Justin & Katy]

Coleman fuel or White gas is relativley easy to come by. I get it at Wal-Mart around six bucks a gallon. A lot of poeple like propane for the percieved convenience. However, you'll find that the liquid fueled stoves will burn hotter that a propane stove. As far as lanterns go, I've been told that the liquid fuel lanterns are brighter but i've never tested that claim myself. besides, You can't find a propane lantern that looks this cool...



or a stove that looks this cool.



May be we should all post pictures of our super cool retro lanterns to push everyone who's on the edge of contracting the Coleman bug...

[Ratkity]

I've been bitten, I believe.

I have spent hours looking at eBay and checking Craigslist in my area. I've decided I like the Sears single mantle lanterns, even though the glow of the mica lanterns is so cool.

My baby sis has a coleman propane and it's so bright, it's blinding. I am looking for something much more mellow.

I also like the 200As and any of the nickle founts (did I spell that right?).

Thanks for all your replies.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Justin & Katy]

Unfortunately the older model lanterns only have one setting and it's bright. The newer models are adjustable however.

[doug hodder]

You can also get reproduction mica shades that will fit the 242's....gives a great vintage look, and a mica shade will take more of a hammering in a trailer than a glass one. Lost a glass one on HWY 1 last year....but the mica is fine. PS....white gas works better in low temps also. You can freeze up a propane 1# bottle. Doug

[Justin & Katy]

i hadn't thought about that Doug! Do you have a picture?

[doug hodder]

I'll drag it out of the other trailer tonight and get one...really a good look on it. Doug

[rainjer]

I've been bitten, I believe.

I have spent hours looking at eBay and checking Craigslist in my area. I've decided I like the Sears single mantle lanterns, even though the glow of the mica lanterns is so cool.

My baby sis has a coleman propane and it's so bright, it's blinding. I am looking for something much more mellow.

I also like the 200As and any of the nickle founts (did I spell that right?).

Thanks for all your replies.

Hugs,
Ratkity

Just remember once you get one they breed like rabbits.... In no time you will have a dozen...


Jeremy