51 Lantern

I'm really stoked! I just re-assembled a 1951 single-mantle Coleman 220A lantern that my brother Bill had collecting dust in his garage. First try and she fired up!

This lantern is a pretty little gem, with a forest green fountain and a red ventilator. The globe is rounded and has the Coleman logo etched into the glass.

The inside of the fountain was pretty rusty, so I'm not sure how long I'll be able to run it before the valve gums up. I washed it out with gasoline pretty good, but it only takes a little rust to stop up the works.

I replaced the generator and the filler cap, the latter for safety reasons. The old filler caps can be rebuilt, but they have been known to blow gas if loosened; something that you don't really want to do around an open flame.

The only part of the lantern I painted was the frame. Tonight, I oiled the pump, cleaned up the rest, reassembled, then took her out on the back porch to see if it would burn. I pumped her up, placed her in the snow, and she fired right up.

I'll proudly be adding this one to my growing collection. I have a 1962 double-mantle 228E in green that still needs the valve packing replaced. That lantern went on many family camping trips to Montauk Point and Cape Hatteras, and even traveled all the way up to Prince Edward Island in the back of a VW micro bus hauling a 14' day sailer and four happy kids.

The other workhorse lantern in my collection is a green, double-mantle 1977 220F. It's the only one younger than me. It has an amber globe, has been rebuilt, and works very reliably.

Now if you have an old nickle plated Coleman in your attic, just let me know.

Gas Pressure Lanterns, Lamps, Stoves and Irons
International Coleman Collector's Club
Old Town Coleman Center and Museum