It doesn’t have the engraved OCD number on the fount but has the same parts noted above from the Coleman – Toronto factory as on the OCD model. This lantern has it’s original box with the same label as on the OCD lantern boxes (right image). Collectors have found a number of these non-engraved lanterns in California as well as three, including the one pictured here, that Ron Becker found in Wichita. These lanterns apparently were made in excess of the ones purchased and engraved for the OCD.
The direction disk on this Coleman 237 is stamped Made in United States of America but hidden by the collar the word CANADA is stamped (upper right image, above the red letter A). As on other nickel plated brass founts made by the Coleman – Toronto factory, the month and year numbers are in small numerals in the lower corners of the side fount stamp (lower image). So far we have only seen coleman lantern the CANADA stamping under the collar on Coleman – Wichita made 237s from the first half of 1954. Coleman only manufactured Model 228C after WWII, from late 1945 until early 1947, with some production overlap with Model 228D (below). Model 228C has the same features as Model 220C above including a green painted brass fount, screw-on pump cap, and yellow lighting instruction decal.
These lanterns, dated June ’59, are in Mike Rainey’s (left) & Dean DeGroff’s (right) collections. Coleman stamped Model 220C on the lanterns they made from 1944 until 1947. This lantern, in John Stendahl’s collection, is dated October 1945.
Steel wool and a coil of asbestos “rope” inside the globe rest kept dust from clogging the air intake and fuel from dripping on the floor. These lanterns are in Jerry Engbring’s collection. Fill the fount at least half-full of fresh gasoline or camp fuel. Tighten the filler cap and give the lantern 20 pump stokes. Allow it to sit for a few minutes while you watch for leaks.
The two attachments are mounted in the bottom of the case in front of the lantern for transport. Note the alcohol preheating can for the kerosene fueled 237 lantern in the images. This lantern is in a Coleman collection near Sugarcreek, Ohio. Coleman 237 lanterns with an American Optical film strip and slide projector (left) and a Society for Visual Education Inc. slide and film strip projector (right).
If there is no resistance when pressing down on the pump, you will need to repair it before continuing. Coleman made this inverted lantern for military trial. A similar lantern was made by The Mantle Lamp Co. of America.
This lantern, in Ed Franklin’s collection, is date stamped November 1951. The fount and direction disk are both marked US. In “A” (Jan. – June) 1951 Coleman was making the 220D and 228D with green painted brass founts rather than nickel plated brass; compare to the Model 200, above right. The valve wheels on these lanterns are brown plastic and there is no decal on the side of the fount.
Other L427 pump handles have a nearly flat top or a top with rounded lobes. The Coleman Quick-Lite 327 was sold from 1920 to 1924 coleman canopy from the Wichita (USA) plant with no date stamp. This lantern, in Ron Lenfield’s collection, includes the box and accessories.
These models could be purchased with either a Pyrex (left) or mica globe (right). Details of the early construction of these models is shown below. The L220 lantern above came with a Coleman reflector that appeared in the 1920 Coleman Parts Catalog coleman sleeping bag 27 (no part number). The reflector was designed for the earlier LQ lantern but also fits in L220 and L228 models. The spring steel reflector rests against three of the uprights and the shiny inner surface reflects light from the mantles.
They were the first Coleman model to have a pump as part of the lantern. These lanterns are in Shirley Willard’s (left)& Dean DeGroff’s (right) collections. Ian Keates, who bought this lantern in Switzerland for his collection, does not believe that it had been disassembled before. By November, 1951, Coleman’s Model 200A had been introduced, replacing Model 200 above. These earliest 200A lanterns had green painted steel founts and, by November, also had the Coleman decal. We believe this lantern is a Model 221, a kerosene fueled version of their Model 220 above (McRae).