Coleman Liquid Fuel

[ericbphoto]

Well, y'all have inspired me to see what I have. These were my dad's. We always called them the "Coleman lantern" and "Coleman stove". But as you can see, it says Sears all over them. I can't help but think Coleman most likely manufactured them for Sears, though I don't have any info yet to support that.

Anyway, they haven't been used in years - probably 10 or more. The lantern has a year stamp for 1971. I couldn't find a similar Mark on the stove. They were probably purchased at the same time or maybe a year apart (thinking mom and dad may have had to save up money for them). We also had a matching Coleman or Sears heater. That's gone. I remember it having a domed top. I've been camping since before my first birthday. Mom and dad talked about having to set up the playpen to put me in before they could set up the tent - big heavy canvas thing, also from Sears.

I suppose I now need to find some manuals to learn how to clean and operate these things. More projects. I have some miner's carbide lamps and railroad oil lanterns also that need some minor tlc. The box for the lantern is pretty torn up. I also have a spare leather pump seal that seems to still be pliable and useable. Should I preserve the leather with some kind of oil or grease?

The 2 curved generators at the bottom don't seem to match with my stove or lantern. Anyone recognize and need them?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Lantern screams Coleman to me, I know they did make them for sears but I don’t know what all was changed. The date stamp looks the same as Coleman.

Stove looks different, the grate, the case everything.

FWIW Coleman also dated the fuel tanks on the bottom of the tabs that mount it to the stove. Even the fuel tank looks different though...

You might punch in the model numbers and see what comes up.

Generators are really old.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Somebody needs to go shopping for some military surplus lanterns to use up their generators!

Old Coleman Parts > Generators > Generator Complete - E1274

This is a new old stock generator. Fits Military model 252 lantern. Also other non Coleman military lanterns

www.oldcolemanparts.com

 

[ericbphoto]

Somebody needs to go shopping for some military surplus lanterns to use up their generators!

Old Coleman Parts > Generators > Generator Complete - E1274

This is a new old stock generator. Fits Military model 252 lantern. Also other non Coleman military lanterns

www.oldcolemanparts.com

Hmmm. That's interesting.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Hmmm. That's interesting.

Like a model 252

 

[Uncle Gump]

I think Coleman did make those for Sears. I also think before they were Sears... they were badged J.C. Higgins... that were sold at Sears. I have a bunch of J.C. Higgins stuff in my collection... but no fuel burning stuff. Cool stuff you have Eric.

I will bet the mil spec Lantern is worth bank.

 

[ericbphoto]

I will bet the mil spec Lantern is worth bank.

All I have are 2 new generators for that military model. Looks like a cool lantern to have, though.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

All I have are 2 new generators for that military model. Looks like a cool lantern to have, though.

They sound pretty neat, rather scarce though. Not sure they are really worth that much more than a regular one unless they are wartime. They made them at least up into the 80's so they had a pretty good run.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Really looks like your blue lantern will clean up good...

 

[ericbphoto]

Really looks like your blue lantern will clean up good...

It should. There is some paint missing around the center of the top. I would assume that's from heat. A little bit of surface rust on a tube inside. Otherwise, it's just dirt. There is fuel sloshing around in the tank and the mantles are torn. Might not take much to get it operating.

 

[sgtsandman]

I took the three lanterns up to my buddies camp where they can serve a good use. The camp loses power a few times a year, so now the camp will have light. I still need to disassemble them to make sure they are good and clean, but there is usually enough down time there to get that done. I also left a Harbor Freight two-stroke generator that I have there as well to keep the fridge running. Gotta keep the food fresh and the beer cold after all.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I love me some Coleman stuff... well everything but my 508 at the moment. But my problem is... I like ALL collectables. From bubble gum machines to double bladed axes. A couple pictures from my antiques booth... you will see a lantern box... it contained a brand new 71 or 72 lantern... never lit with all the paper work and new mantles. I sold it for $125. Just one of the pieces I wish I would have kept. None of this stuff was even part of my personal collection... I have it bad.

Shran mentioned cast iron cookware... I sold all mine to a local dealer in one shot. It was a good payday. Now I search for more...

 

[Josh B]

Well, here it is! Works great, fired right up! I've gotten a couple of my stoves and a lantern or two from the thrift store. Yard sales, estate sales and pawn shops have yielded better stuff though.

Lanterns are all up and running at this point except for the oil lamp and the lantern on the far left - it flares up, something is not quite right and I haven't been motivated enough to tear it down yet.

What's that red one Shran? I found one here like that but thought it wasn't a Coleman. It's really in pretty bad shape though, can't even read the name on it. I just went and looked tho and it has a 52 stamped into the bottom, about the only thing I can make out on it

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Like a 200/200A.

Scarce as hens teeth around here. Everybody must have liked the big green two burner ones around here back in the day.

 

[Shran]

Yep it's a 200A. Not super common but I have run across more than a couple. Just about any single mantle lantern is harder to find, though.