Coleman lamps before mid-1920's


"The Efficient" pendant arc lamp, No. 6,
was manufactured by Irby & Gilliland in Memphis, Tennessee, 1899-1903.
After selling these lamps for Irby & Gilliland,
W. C. Coleman bought the company.
The lamp on the left is in Ernie Hiatt's collection;
the nickel plated lamp on the right is in Dick Seller's collection.


The Efficient was replaced by the Coleman Arc Lamp.
This one is also embossed Made by The Hydrocarbon Light Co.
This lamp, No. 7846, has the original preheater rod and cup
and brass chimney cap on a reproduction mica chimney;
all other parts on the lamp are original as well.
This "Abilene Historic Society lamp" is in Dick Seller's collection.


This Coleman Model PQ chandelier lamp
has been stripped to the brass,
and is missing the ornamental shell on the hanging stem.
The globes are #321 reproductions from Craig Seabrook (see links).
This lamp is in Fil Graff's collection.


The Model R Reading Lamp with a # 74 shade.
Less than 20,000 of this model were shipped
between 1909 and 1916.
Note the upper air regulator screw.
This lamp lacks burners.
It is in Ron and Charleen Becker's collection.


This Model A, the first designated "Air-O-Lite,"
was introduced 2 years after the Model R, in 1911.
Fewer than 25,000 were made in the 13 months it was in production.
It had a curved air tube and an improved burner.
The 306 shade was the standard shade for this model.
This lamp is in Jim & Jan Nichols' collection.


The Model H torch lit lamps were made from 1912 - 1916
and came with the 306 shade as seen here (left image).
The smoke bell in this model has an unique design (right image).
The filler plug includes black fiber.
This lamp is in Jim and Jan Nichols' collection


This is the Ker-O-Lite No. AVK307 lamp
with the # 307 matching shade.
Coleman shipped 4,284 of this model
between 1913 and 1918.
Note the arc lantern burners.
This lamp is in Ron and Charleen Becker's collection.


These Model "A" Air-O-Lite lamps
were made in the US from ca. 1911-22.
The lamp on the left, in George Rocen's collection,
has the shade holder and heat bell.
The lamp on the right, in Dick Seller's collection,
is outfitted with a Coleman 314C shade.


The Model "M" Air-O-Lite (left) and Model "N" Air-O-Lite (right) lamps.
The Model "M" was made in Wichita, Kansas, from 1915 to 1919.
George Rocen also has the wrench and torch for preheating the generator on this lamp.
The Model "N", in Bob Willard's collection,
lacks the tip cleaner of the Model "M" and dates to the same time period.


Coleman made the Model AQ around 1918-1920.
This one, in Fil Graff's collection,
has the 318 Coleman shade.
This model has the fuel valve above the handle
and a Q70 Quick-Lite burner;
the fuel filler cap is under the bell cover.


An alcohol torch preheater was supplied with lamps as the above
as well as with lighting systems and street lamps.
The torch soaked in the alcohol in the bottle
and was applied to the stem of the lamp below the mantles
where it was allowed to burn down to preheat the lamp for running.
This is in John Carriere's collection.


This is the CQ 329 table lamp with small bug screens.
The Coleman company denoted the model with the shade number in sales brochures.
This was the CQ gasoline lamp with a 329 shade.
The "Protect-a-lite" screens were made to prevent flying insects
that were drawn to the light from breaking the mantles.
This lamp is in the collection of Dwayne Hanson.




Coleman began selling the Whirling Hand Demonstrator to dealers in 1922
so they could demonstrate the safety of Quick-Lite lamps in any position by rotating the lamp.
The clamp (bottom) holds the hexagonal valve securely.
The embossing (middle) is at the top of the cast iron stand.
This device is in Jim & Jan Nichols's collection.


Model CQ 333.
The sales literature lists this lamp as the compbination shown.
It was sold complete with shade and large "Protect-a-lite" screen.
This lamp is also in the collection of Dwayne Hanson.


Coleman also painted the brass founts of the CQ lamp in three colors -
Antique Gold, Flemish Brass, and Roman Bronze.
Unfortunately no one has any literature that shows which color is which!
These three lamps, in Ronnie Hardison's collection,
are all undated and have #335 shades.


The Model CQ was made with a variety of shades.
Here it has a 335A fringed shade.
The fringe is reproduction material
on the original painted glass.
This lamp is in Jim and Jan Nichols' collection.


This Coleman CQ lamp is dated July '26.
On the left it is fitted with the #307 green cased shade
which has white glass underneath
and on the right with the #324 shade finished in green.
This lamp and shades are in Dean DeGroff's collection.


Not all shades were glass; this pre-1924 CQ lamp
is outfitted with a 334 green and white enamelled  steel shade
made by Coleman.
This lamp is in Ronnie Hardison's collection.


Another CQ lamp, dated May, 1926, in Ronnie Hardison's collection,
has a 318 shade that Coleman originally had made for torch lighting Models M and N.
This shade is brown as are other shades designated 318 by Coleman.
David Jahn thinks this shade was sold on the later Quick-Lites,
as seen here, to use up old stock.


Coleman made the Model 532 for the Sunshine Safety Lamp Co.
Kansas City, Missouri.
It is similar to the CQ but has a wood handle
and the generator nut threads are female rather than male as on the CQ.
This lamp, with the original shade,
is in Bob Willard's collection.


These lamps were made by Coleman for other companies.
The first lamp (left and center left) is stamped Arcolite CL 513 on the bottom of the fount
and was made for the Yale Light Co. of Chicago, which merged with Coleman in 1914.
It is in Shirley Willard's collection.
Model WZ (center right) was made for Sears, Wards, Savage, et al.
and has the same burner and 306 shade as the CL 513.
Coleman Canada made the Everbright lamp for a company by that name in Toronto.
It has the same burner as the other lamps in this row; I believe the shade is original.


Coleman made few of the De Luxe Quick-Lite lamps (left)
and fewer of the De Luxe (Quick-Lite) Parlor lamps (right) in the mid 1920's.
The two-piece shade and pot metal fount covers on the lamp on the left
were made by Edw. Miller as was the one-piece fount on the right.
Fil Graff owns the lamp on the left, which is running,
and Jim and Jan Nichols own the one on the right.
Note the two different designs on the fount covers.


American Gas Machine lanterns - early models
Main
AGM lanterns - models beginning with the mid-1930's
American Gas Machine lamps
AGM, King Seeley, & Thermos lanterns - later models
Coleman lamps before mid-1920's
Coleman lanterns pre-1931
Coleman lamps after mid 1920's
Coleman lanterns 1931 - 1945
Coleman hollow wire lighting
Coleman lanterns 1946 - 1960
Coleman stoves pre-1945
 Coleman lanterns 1961 - 1980
Coleman stoves post-1945
 Coleman lanterns 1981 - present
Custom lighting
Heater etc. manufacturers A - K
Hollow wire lighting
Heater etc. manufacturers L - Z
International lamp manufacturers A - F
International lantern manufacturers A - E
International lamp manufacturers G - Z
 International lantern manufacturers F - M
Irons
 International lantern manufacturers N - S
Links
 International lantern manufacturers T - Z
Pumps
Propane lantern & stove manufacturers A - B
 Stove manufacturers A - D
Propane lantern & stove manufacturers C
Stove manufacturers E - O
Propane lantern & stove manufacturers D - M
Stove manufacturers P - Z
Propane lantern & stove manufacturers N - Z
Swedish lamps
Tilley lanterns
Tilley household lamps pre-1945
US lantern manufacturers A - G
Tilley household lamps post-1945
US lantern manufacturers H - M
Tilley industrial lamps & lanterns
US lantern manufacturers N - P
US lamp manufacturers A - B
US lantern manufacturers Q - Z
US lamp manufacturers C - M
Wrench & other lamp tool manufacturers A - M
US lamp manufacturers N - R
Wrench & other lamp tool manufacturers N - Z
US lamp manufacturers S - Z



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The College accepts no responsibility for the content of these pages.
© 2000 Terry Marsh
Last updated May 11, 2008
 tgmarsh@noctrl.edu