The Coleman Company made a demonstration lamp (left)
to support their Instant-Lite patent; note the presence of the sight glass
to see fuel and/or air moving up to the generator.
This lamp is in the Coleman Museum in Wichita.
Jim Nichols modified an early 220B by adding a heat deflector and sight glass (2nd from left).
In the instant lite position, air bubbles and fuel pass through the sight glass (2nd from right)
while in the run position, only fuel passes through the sight glass (right).

In 1932-33, Sunshine Products Co., Chicago, Illinois,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Coleman, made this F-146 lantern model.
Through this subsidiary, Coleman built a very small number of lanterns with a carburetor valve
(note that the valve enters the fount not the globe rest)
possibly as an experiment in a period when other companies such as AGM were
using this alternative method of dual feed - air and gasoline.
The replacement globe was made by Fred Kuntz.
This lantern is in Mark Baldwin's collection.

This Coleman Model 242 is dated February 1933.
The ventilator doesn't take a ball nut but has a threaded insert
so that a shade can be fitted and it can serve as a lamp.
The pump lacks an air tube and positive shut-off
as found on almost all Coleman models.
This lantern was restored by Fred Kuntz.

Model 242A was made in 1935-36.
The pump handle lacks an air tube and positive shut-off
as Model 242 above but does have a hold-down pin
(lower image from John Stendahl)
This lantern has a reproduction mica globe;
a mica globe was standard on this model.

A Model 228B Coleman, dated Sept. '33.
This lantern has an original globe
in which the logo was sandblasted into the glass.
This lantern is in Fred Kuntz's collection.

Coleman in Wichita made these Model 223 lanterns in the mid 1930's.
They have brass frames and unusual lighting hole doors.
This is a kerosene fueled 300 cp model;
These came from Thailand and are in Michael Merz's collection.

This Model 223B lantern is also undated
but was presumably made after Model 223 above.
The B version also has a provision to add a pressure gauge.
This lantern, in Warren Wright's collection,
lacks the large lighting doors on Model 223 above
and has a cast aluminum preheater cup.

Coleman made the L427 Quick-Lite lantern
in the 1930's for the US Forest Service.
These lanterns are dated Mar '33 & Feb '35
and are embossed USFS on the side of the founts.
The lanterns are in Deems Burton's collection.

This lantern is similarly equipped as the Quick-Lites above
but is only stamped F.S (for the U.S. Forest Service)
on the rim of the fount that was once painted red.
The lantern is date stamped Dec '29.

This L427 Quick-Lite was also made for the US Forest Service
but has USFS stippled into the fount rather than embossed.
This lantern appears to be dated Jan '36.

This L427 Quick-Lite was made in Wichita and is dated Dec. '36,
perhaps one of the last of this model to be made in the US.
It is stamped QL on the bottom of the fount.
This lantern, in Fred Kuntz's collection,
has one of his reproduction mica globes.
Fred also had the ventilator re-enameled.

Coleman kerosene lanterns, Model 234 (one mantle, 175 cp) on the left,
and Model 235 (two mantle, 300 cp) in the middle and right.
The 234 is all original and dated February, 1936.
This lantern is in Fred Kuntz's collection.
The 235 in the middle has the original globe,
is stamped LQ on the fount base, and is dated December, 1935.
This lantern is in Mark Baldwin's collection.
The 235 on the right, also dated Dec. '35, is in Neil McRae's collection.

Four Model 243 lanterns in Neil McRae's collection (left to right):
Model 243 with a black ventilator and dated 6, for 1936?, the first year for this model.
Model 243A with a blue ventilator and dated June '37.
Model 243A with a black ventilator and dated Aug. '41.
Model 243A with a black ventilator and a ball nut stamp 6 0 or 0 9; for 1940 or 1946?

Jim Nichols spent many hours profiling the cut-away 242B lantern (right)
in his shop to create the image that you see here.
The nickel plating has been removed.
The air tube from the base of the pump to the top of the fount
prevents gas from leaking back out the pump
if the check valve should fail.
The 242B on the left, owned by Doug & Nadine Rorem, is dated Oct. '37.

We believe that the Coleman Lamp and Stove Co. in Los Angeles, California,
manufactured or had these No. 36 "Handy Pails" made for Junior size lanterns.
This "Handy Pail" came with a 242B inside when Dwayne Hanson found it.
The instructions call for storing the lantern upside down
on a rag or newspaper in the can (to protect the mantle).

This embossed Coleman globe came on a 242B.
Some are also embossed Made in U.S.A. on the back;
this one is not.
All of these of which I am aware are cracked or missing a piece of glass
in nearly the same place and pattern on the upper right.
There is a small "4" embossed above Pyrex on this globe (not visible).

Neil McRae notes that Model 246 was Coleman's number
for the 242 lantern made for export.
This 246 may date to 1940; the date is difficult to read.
It has a tip cleaner wheel as on Model 242K below,
and a solid pump handle as on the 242A above.
This lantern, which was found in Germany,is in John Eggert's collection.

By the end of the 220/228B model run in 1942
Coleman painted the founts green, and stamped them U.S.
They continued to lack any model identification.
Model 228B (left), in Dean DeGroff's collection, is date stamped August '42,
has a brass fount, and most of the usual brass parts are still made with brass.
Model 220B (right) is date stamped November '42, has a steel fount,
and a number of other parts are steel.

This 242B is stamped as such on the collar
and is date stamped Nov. '41 on the bottom.
The brass sided fount is protected with green paint
as are the lanterns below made in '42.
This lantern is in Alex Swanson's collection.

These are the earliest 220BX/220C lanterns that I have seen;
they are date stamped Nov. 1942 (left) and Jan. 1943 (right).
The model is not stamped but we know Coleman's designation
from boxes in which this model came; the bottom is stamped U.S.
They have progressively more steel parts than either the 220/228B above.
These lanterns are in Blake Brallier's collection (left) and in Dean DeGroff's collection (right).

Another Coleman kerosene lantern,
this is Model 237B.
It is dated July, 1944.
Complete with the #330 globe,
this model is in Fred Kuntz's collection.

Initial production of the mil-spec lantern by Coleman in 1944
resulted in lanterns without parts wells;
Coleman designated these their Model 252, per Roger Hill.
This one is stenciled 27 AAA (Anti Aircraft Artillery)
and 12 PLT. (Platoon).

This Model 242C lantern is only identified with a white stencil on the bottom
where it is also date stamped 4 9 - Sept. '44.
The lantern is not stamped U.S.
The brass sided fount is protected with green paint.
This lantern is in Sean McGee's collection.