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 coleman lantern there is no decal on the side of the fount. 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).
So far we have only seen the CANADA stamping under the collar on Coleman – Wichita made 237s from the first half of 1954. Coleman still sells a variety of lanterns that are powered by propane, kerosene, or camp fuel (aka white gas). They are still built in Wichita Kansas (though some parts, such as the globes, are made in China) and are widely available for sale online and in some big box stores. Coleman continued making the 242C lantern until December, 1950, even though they were making the new Model 200 above.
Contact our team to talk to a factory expert to help you choose the right model based on your needs. This continuity clearly appeals to Wilmot and his personal Coleman collection is a show of respect for this timelessness. Wilmot says he’s also cleaned and shined up a number of lanterns, and gotten them working correctly, in order to give them to friends.
It has a nostalgic feel to it, and brings me back to the days when I’d go ice fishing late at night with my Dad. After a year of use, I found myself always grabbing the LED lantern coleman canopy when I needed light, and for many reasons. It is really just a big flashlight with an on off switch. You don’t need to find a propane tank, or look for a funnel and a gas can.
If you want to drop the operating cost, then all you have to do is fill the tank with unleaded gasoline. At an average price of $2.50 a gallon, that will bring the operating cost to $0.07 per hour. The construction of the above 228B built in May 1930 includes a swaged bail that will only fit in the key slot on the frame member when it is under the frame. As a result the bail will not detach from an assembled lantern. This lantern is the largest and the heaviest product we reviewed.
The plastic base is not very durable nor does it stay on when you lift the lantern by its handle. Place your finger over the hole in the air intake tube where the generator just came out of. Use an air compressor to blow-out the burner assembly by holding the air nozzle under the burner cap(s) and blowing air up into the lantern. This will clear dirt and insect nests out of the tubes.
Coleman made the “D” version of Model 228 from the mid 1940’s until 1951. This one, in Patrick Fay’s collection, is dated April, 1948, and has the original globe on which Coleman appears in large faint green letters. This was the last version to have a nickel plated brass fount and the pump is held in by two small screws, not a spring clip. We believe this lantern is a Model 221, a kerosene fueled version of their Model 220 above (McRae). The fuel pickup (not shown) is a simple tube and there is a supplementary generator heater threaded into the mixing chamber casting (middle images).
I unfortunately purchased a coleman rechargeable lantern BEFORE I started looking for reviews..this one wonked out on us after six hours.. This lantern may be able to recharge other items BUT, when we go camping we do not take along things that need to be recharged. We go to get away and radios, cell phones, etc have nop place in our tents. The lantern was easy to use, but was ridiculously heavy for its size and cost more than what we had anticipated. Camping lanterns are very useful for camping or spending time on your backyard patio. They provide bright light that helps you see in the dark.