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 positiion, only fuel passes throught the sight glass (right).

Coleman Canada made the 220B Model (left) in May '31, the 220B (center) in C (Jul-Sep) '38,
and the 228B (right) in August '35.
The 220B on the left is unusual for its factory green Colac finish
which is usually associated with several lamp models.
The small base rest on these models is only stamped "Coleman."
The 220B on the left is in Craig Seabrook's collection
and the 228B is in Tim Couch's collection.

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.

Model 242 (left) is dated February 1933
and an undated Model 242A (right) made in 1935-36.
The 242 was restored to its original splendor by Fred Kuntz
with a re-enameled ventilator, his reproduction 242 globe,
and a replated globe rest & fount.
The 242A has a reproduction mica globe
which was standard on this model.

Coleman also made a kerosene fueled version of the 242,
Model 242K, for a couple of years in the mid 1930's.
The preheater cup is cast aluminum,
one of the earliest uses of this metal in a lantern or lamp,
and the cleaner tip valve is a wheel rather than a bent wire.
The lantern on the left is dated Sept. '34 and on the right, July, '36.
These Canadian lanterns are in George Rocen's collection.

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 Canada made this Model 223W lantern in 1935.
This particular lantern, in Ernie Hiatt's collection, is undated.
It is a kerosene fueled 300 cp model.
The globe rest is as on the Model 235 below
while the label on the globe rest is as on the
Sunshine Products F146 above.

Coleman made the L427 Quick-Lite lantern in the 1930's for the US Forest Service.
These lanterns are dated (left to right) Mar '33, Feb '35, and May '35.
These lanterns are embossed USFS on the side of the founts.
Replacement ventilators were green for these lanterns.
The lanterns on the left and center are in Deems Burton's collection;
the image on the right is by Neil McRae of a lantern in Ernie Hiatt's collection.

These lanterns are similarly equipped Quick-Lites as above
but are only stamped F.S on the rims of the founts, which were once painted red.
The lantern on the left is stamped Dec '29.
The one on the right, in Ernie Hiatt's collection, is dated Jan 1930
and has the original red enameled ventilator.
It was photographed by Neil McRae.

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.

Five Model 243 lanterns in Neil McRae's collection (left to right):
Model 243 with a black ventilator and dated 6, =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 0/0 9?; =1946?
Model 243B, made in Canada, with an aluminum ventilator and dated Nov '63.

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.

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).

The Coleman factory in Toronto, Canada made this Model 236 which is dated C (July-Sept?) 1939.
This is the earliest 236 of which I am aware.
The ventilator is dark blue, not green, and the brass fount is painted brown with gold accents.
The optional reflector (right), which is in Bernie Rousseau's collection,
is the same dark blue color as the ventilator and is marked "Coleman, Made in Canada."

This Coleman 220 B lantern was made in Canada
and is dated A '40.
Craig Seabrook has had the ventilator re-porcelainized
to the original lighter green color
seen on several of the Canadian lantern models.
The globe cage and bail were nickel plated.

Neil McRae thinks this Coleman lantern may be Model 238A
based on the presence of the rapid preheater,
which is controlled by the wheel in the collar (left image).
This exported lantern, in Peet Van der Walt's collection,
is dated B 41 (April-June, 1941) and is a 350cp model
that is kerosene fueled.

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 is the earliest 220BX/220C that I have seen;
it is date stamped Jan. 1943.
The model is not stamped but we know Coleman's designation
from boxes in which this model came.
The bottom is stamped U.S.
It has more steel parts than either the 220/228B above.
This lantern is in Dean DeGroff's collection.

This Coleman Quick-Lite lantern was made in Canada,
as shown on the stamping in the baseplate (lower image).
On the bottom it is stamped Model 327.
It is dated C ((July-Sept), 1943.
This model would have been inexpensive as it is not Instant Lite,
has a mica globe, and requires a separate pump.
The fount is brass, surprising in wartime.

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.

Coleman in Toronto, Canada, made this 242B in D '45,
which we interpret to be Oct-Dec of that year.
The shade is stamped "Made in Canada" and "Coleman."
This lantern is in Will Nelle's collection.